If You Love, Love Openly - A Zen Story in Verse

Twenty monks and Eshun, the only nun,
Practiced meditation with a master of Zen.
She looked very pretty
Her head though was shaved

And her dress very plain.
Many monks loved her secretly,
Everyone’s heart was slain.
A certain monk could resist no more

A love letter to her he wrote
For a rendezvous very remote.
But no reply he got from nun Eshun.
Next day after the master’s sermon

She stood up and said to him:
“If you love me as you tell me,
I’ll see you in a place remote,
But now, come, embrace me now.”

Rendered from the following Zen story:

If You Love, Love Openly

Twenty monks and one nun, who was named Eshun, were practicing meditation with a certain Zen master. Eshun was very pretty even though her head was shaved and her dress plain. Several monks secretly fell in love with her. One of them wrote her a love letter, insisting upon a private meeting. Eshun did not reply. The following day the master gave a lecture to the group, and when it was over, Eshun arose. Addressing the one who had written to her, she said: "If you really love me so much, come and embrace me now."

http://www.maths.utas.edu.au/People/Allison/zen/zen005.html