Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

Like the birds I came —
No road under my feet,
A golden-chained gate
Unlocks itself.

I don’t think Suzuki Roshi was renowned for his poems, but delving through my archives the other day, I found this as mentioned in a very early Windbell – a poem he gave as part of his Shinzanshiki (Mountain Seat Ceremony), becoming the Abbot of Sokoji, the temple in Japantown in 1962, long before Tassajara or City Center. The incoming abbot offers incense and a statement at the temple gate – or front door in this case – before entering to take charge of the temple.