In the delicate weave of tradition and transcendence, "Japanese Death Poems" by Yoel Hoffmann offers a profound glimpse into the soul of Japan through the lens of its unique jisei, or death poems. This remarkable collection unveils the poignant and often understated beauty of the Japanese approach to the end of life, a tradition where the final words are crafted with the same precision and care as a life well-lived. Through the meticulously translated verses—many appearing in English for the first time—readers are invited into the intimate moments of contemplation and farewell of monks, samurais, and poets alike, each embracing the inevitability of death with a poignant, often unexpectedly humorous, final expression of their being. Hoffmann not only curates a vast array of these historical epitaphs but also enriches them with insightful commentaries that illuminate the cultural and spiritual landscapes from which they emerge. From the early aristocratic expressions of longing and the stoic compositions of the samurai, to the satirical musings of the more contemporary poets, this collection spans the gamut of human emotion and philosophical pondering. Prefaced by an exploration of Zen Buddhist perceptions of death—which in itself offers a fascinating backdrop to the poems—the book also ventures beyond Japan, including a selection of Chinese Zen monk death poems. "Japanese Death Poems" is a testament to the enduring human spirit, offering readers a deeply affecting encounter with the art of dying, an art that perhaps, in its most sublime form, teaches us the essence of a life fully lived.