On a walk through the woods today, this great array of golden leaves (mostly big-tooth aspen) made me think of this haiku by Ryokan. Alan Watts says this haiku suggests poverty. It seems to me that it also suggests the simplicity that Ryokan as a Zen monk would have embraced.

The wind brings

Fallen leaves,

Enough to make a fire.

Haiku by Ryokan.

Another translation I've seen is this: "As much fuel as I need, Is supplied by the wind..., These fallen leaves I gather." I don't like this anywhere near as much as the above, which I believe is one of R.H. Blyth's translations.

For more haiku enthusiasts: http://form.pbase.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=46787