One Hundred Colours of Being by C.W. Blackburn

C.W. Blackburn sub-titles his new book “Poems in the Spirit of Zen” and here he has produced 100 verses in the Japanese Tanka style. Tanka is, I think a better choice for English poets than the more widely used Haiku form. The problem is that the NO that are used as the basis for both these verse forms are not directly relatable to the English language syllable. The Tanka however with it’s two part part format allows a little more leeway for the poet writing in English and, indeed, almost sounds, to my ears, as being a mini sonnet. (Again I know the sonnet is not an English verse form but we’ll gloss over that here.) At any rate, C.W Blackburn has made excellent use of this form in his collection.

The verses themselves are easily assimilated by a casual reader but also benefit from deeper contemplation. For me, the ideal way to approch to them was to read them one at a time and then put the book down. C.W has allowed himself elasticity of form and meaning that makes each one of the verses a delight. Some are veiled and mysterious but most have a directness that makes them enjoyable for everyone.

Copies of the book can be obtained from Amazon or track down C.W. Blackburn himself and ask hims to sell you one.

Whilst others search for answers -

I turn my mind

Towards this question:

In a world of such division

What is the colour of our being?