Following on from the much loved collection, Glasgow Zen, Alan Spence returns with another collection of haiku and short reflective poems full of his customary warmth and insight. We hope you enjoy this little snapshot and feel A Wee Bit Zen!

A Wee Bit Zen
By Alan Spence
Published by Luath Press

THE CHILD QUESTIONS THE HAIKU POET 

D’you get paid 

for writin these? 

THE OLD MAN’S ZEN 

Gift horse in the mouth?

Accepting what comes 

your way?

Refuse nothing, he’d say. 

Nothing but blows. 

KAFKAESQUE 
(for Gerda Stevenson)  

Overheard in Prague, in the rain, outside the Kafka Museum  

It shouldn’t be like this.  

It shouldn’t, but it is. 

HAKUIN VERSIONS 

If only I could 

make you hear it – 

sound of the snow falling 

late at night, 

the old temple 

deep in the forest. 

SENRYU  

made in heaven?  

the talkative husband,  

his deaf wife 

A Wee Bit Zen by Alan Spence is published by Luath Press, priced £8.99