Issue #18

LIGHTS OFFLAKEA BLACK VELVET DRESS

#716

COMMUTER TRAIN. . .STRANGERS SWAYTO THE SAME BEAT

A ‘LAWN’ HAIKU

EACH DUSK I WATERSKITTISH GRASS AND STUBBORN LOAMBY A WHEEL OF STARS

18-3

AN INK BLACK WALL CLOUDCERULEAN SKY ABOVEGREY DELUGE BELOW

FALL LEAVES TURN COLORSBECKONING THEY LEAD THE WAYCARPETING THE PATH

THERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT

LOVE IS ETERNALTHOUGH THE MOON WAXES AND WANESTHERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT

HUNGRY

THERE’S NO FOOD TO EATMAYBE THE NEIGHBOR WON’T MINDIF I BORROW SOME

MOVING

RESTLESS IN MY SEATTHE SAME SONGS PLAY OVER AND OVER12 MORE HOURS UNTIL LA

AN AUTUMN MORNING

THE NOVEMBER CHILLSSWEEP ME AWAY WITH THEIR WINDAS THE LEAVES STILL FALL

SNIPPETS OF STORIESNEVER TO BE WRITTEN DOWNCOMMITMENT IS HARD

THE WHISPER OF WATER

WATER LAPS THE PIERWHISPERING SECRET STORIESOF SHIPWRECKS AND DEATH.

OMINOUS BEAUTYCHARCOAL CLOUDS COLOR THE SKYLIGHTING UP MY HEART

BRINY TROOP

SALT PILES, SIDE BY SIDENATURE’S BRINY TROOP ALIGNSEA SHORE DRESSED IN ICE

OMAKASE

I AM SASHIMIRAW, GLIMMERING, OVER RICE —SERVED OMAKASE

WINTER BEGINS

SIGHS LADEN WITH FOGFROZEN CRYSTALS ON THE TREESTHE FIRST BLUSH OF WHITE

DEW

LITTLE RAINBOW ORBSHANG, DELICATE, OFF GREEN BLADES,VANISH WITH SUNRISE.

STEADFAST

OLD CHILD WHO RISES TODAY.I LOOK TO THE TREES.STEADFAST IN THEIR CONFIDENCE.

MOON TIGHTROPE CABLE

MOON TIGHTROPE CABLESHAMBLING AND SLIDING TREETOPSLEAFY APPLAUSE

FEAR

FEAR HIDES IN TWILIGHTWISDOM LURKS IN THE DARKNESSLONELINESS STANDS TALL

NEW WINTER

MY TIRED LUNGS ARE TICKLEDAS THE FIRST COLD AIR ENTERSWELCOME NEW WINTER

A QUIET NIGHT

LIVING ROOM SNORING,A BIRD SINGS SOFTLY AT NIGHT,SWEET DREAMS FAMILY.

GEESE FLEW SOUTH BY NIGHT

SILVER ARROW PIERCEDTHE SORRY MOON AND VANISHEDINTO BRILLIANCE

MODERN BASTET

HONEY-COLORED FURBASKING IN THE SUN’S GOLD LIGHT,DOMESTIC GODDESS.

RAIN HAIKU

SOFT BEADS OF RAINKISS MY SKIN, FALL TO MY FEETLIKE DIMMING STARS.

DEPRESSION

SHE IS FADING SLOWON THE EDGE OF EMPTINESSVOID OF EMOTION

HAIKU #2

DECIPHER THE NIGHTRUB DREAMS BETWEEN YOUR FINGERSCODED MESSAGES

FORTRESS

IMPENETRABLEFORTRESS BY THE OCEAN; BREACHEDWAVES LAPPING THE SHORE

IN DEFERENCE TO OUR MOTHER

AUTUMN’S DAYS DWINDLE.TREES ABLAZE IN EULOGY.BARE, THEIR MOURNING CLOTHES.

SKY

CEDARS, SENTIENTGUARDIANS OF THE FORESTPARTING ENDLESS SKY

SNOWY SERAPH

A RED CARDINALPERCHING ON THE FROSTED PINENESTLESS NIRVANA

EXOTIC THINGS

BANANA PLANTS, AZALEAS:HOW I ENVY YOUMY FATHER’S ADORATION

GENTLEMEN OF WINTER

PALE GREY AND SILVERFOUR GENTLEMEN OF WINTERSTAND TALL IN THE COLD.

AVALANCHE

CRUSHED BY THE RUBBLEOF OTHERS’ EXPECTATIONSWAITING FOR RELIEF

AUGUST

IN SUMMERTIME HEAT,PROMISES OF FOREVERDISSOLVE LIKE SEA FOAM.

SCARS

I STILL CARRY THEMTHE DEEP SCARS I LEFT YOU WITHDO YOU CARRY MINE?

PARAMEDIC

AMBULANCE SIRENSFLASHING RED AND YELLOW LIGHTSDEATH-FIGHTERS AT WORK

GREY CASHMERE SWEATER

GRAY CASHMERE SWEATERDRAPED ACROSS THE SOFA BACKCLOUDS ROLL OVER MOUNTAIN

ITS PETALS

MOON FLOWER--A SENSE OF HOPEIN ITS PETALS

WORDS FOR YOU

SPOKEN, UNSPOKEN,DESCRIPTIONS AND CONJECTURES-ALL MY WORDS ARE YOURS.

AFTER TRANSPLANT

IN REMISSION NOWI IMAGINE A FUTUREWALKING IN THE WOODS

SWEET SECRET

BEFORE THE WEDDINGWHITE HYACINTHS BLOOM BRAVELYIN THE DARK GARAGE.

SMALL HOURS

THE BEND IN MY ARM,STIFFENED BY THE STRETCH OF NIGHT,ACHES FOR YOUR YOUNG DAWN

INSPIRATION

HE PRAYS UNDER STARSFOR THE ROSES TO SHOW HIMAN IMMORTAL POEM.

REGENERATION

EYES GAZE LANGUIDLY,THE RUMPLED MAN EMBRACING YOU,AS RED SKY DESCENDS.

HAIKU 9-17-20

DRAGGING CHAIRS UPSTAIRSSOUND LIKE VIOLINS YAWNINGBEHIND A CURTAIN

AFTER

LILTING SIDEWAYS, THEDRUNKEN DAFFODILS GIGGLEDRIPPING RAINWATER

PAPER FLOWER

A PAPER FLOWERIN A VASE NEEDS NO WATERBUT WILL NEVER BLOOM

CHANGE

CHANGE BLOWS THROUGH LIFESTRONG GUSTS NEVER CEASINGOBSTACLES VANISH

BONKEI

HANDS MOLD CLAY LANDSCAPESCREATING WORLDS OF BEAUTYART AND MINDFULNESS

WINDSONG

THAT SONG MADE WIND SING —AND IT WAS ONLY A CHILDPLAYING WITH BELLS