Stones in the Air

High alpine pasture – Climb behind, descent ahead – Stones in the air. – a haiku poem The phrase stones in the air is a Zen expression meaning to create trouble where none existed.

The Die is Set

Confined to shadow – Yet achieving radiance – The die has been set. – a haiku poem

Already July

Already July – Not too late to lift your head – The orchid’s shoulders. – a haiku poem

An Invitation

White magnolia – Decorated in sunlight – An Invitation. – a haiku poem

No Conceit

Half-way up the hill – No conceit nor arrogance – The leaves simply grow. – a haiku poem

Izu Unfolding – 3 Motorcycle Haiku

Izu Unfolding Izu unfolding – Ribbons through flower gardens – Songs above the roar. – Tight Turn Enemy, Lover – Leaning in as tires hold – The warmth of the sun – This Very Moment This very moment – As the throttle glides open – The dust brushed away – 3 haiku poems

Shinagawa-san

He, a tall, kind man – who loved those large camphor trees – Leaves, seeds, on our porch – His apologies, too – All cut down now before spring. – a tanka grief poem In fond memory of Shinagawa-san

Relentless Snowfall

Relentless snowfall – Tells it like it really is – The truth unobscured – by bottom-line self-interest – and the greed of the wealthy – Welcome relief. -a mountain poem protest

New Beginning

Each new beginning – transitions to what might be – Beauty from unrest. – a haiku poem

Look, Move Accordingly

The ridge holds the moon – while red fox glides up the slope – and snow cat descends. – Look, and move accordingly – Sometimes go up, sometimes down. – a tanka protest poem This week we are in Hokkaido staying at an Onsen (hot spring) hotel and snowboarding in Niseko. In addition to world […]

Empty Classroom

A bright little girl – Sits in her classroom and looks – at all the empty chairs. – a haiku protest poem We must not… H.R.610 – To distribute Federal funds for elementary and secondary education in the form of vouchers for eligible students and to repeal a certain rule relating to nutrition standards in […]

A mother’s worried eyes

So far away – a mother’s worried eyes – fall short of her son. – Gasping for air and vision – This is not democracy. – a tanka protest poem We must not… H.R.861 – To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency.115th Congress (2017-2018) H.J.Res.69 – Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United […]

Frozen in Motion

Frozen in motion – Ears ring in stoney silence – Nothing but wind howls. -a haiku poem

Life Explodes

Over a summer- Life explodes, wisps, and wanders- Leaving bold traces. -a haiku poem in memory of D.G.

Helpful jealousy

Helpful jealousy- from an innocent question- of a past boyfriend. – perhaps a silly response – or love’s timely reminder. – a senryu poem

Snow Covered Peaks

Blackened, gnarled, branches – Reach toward snow covered peaks – Under winter skies. -a haiku poem

Winter’s First Blanket

Rain drops on willows – Crystals of the morning sun – Winter’s first blanket. – a haiku poem

Green Leaves, Late Autumn

Green leaves, late autumn- unaware of colder nights- and the peace of fall. -a haiku poem

No one remembers them green

Red leaves in autumn soon fall to the forest floor and turn to grey dust. No one remembers them green. Their shine lost in memory.

Shifting Cotton Clouds

Blue meadow mooncast – Dew settles on the grasses – Shifting cotton clouds. – a haiku poem

Autumn Sunshine Stream

Autumn sunshine streams – Cascading down the staircase – to pool on a fern. – a haiku poem written and photographed in Kita-Kamakura

Uplit Trees

Uplit trees floating – in the cool autumn night – Tethered to the earth. – a haiku poem

Into the Garden

The screen door swings closed – Soft steps into the garden – for the last time. – a haiku poem

Oceanside Fireworks

Oceanside fireworks – Captured on a tiny screen – Without the awe. -a senryu poem

Windswept Old Woman

Windswept old woman – with a sunshine umbrella – and purposeful eyes. -a senryu poem

Pigeons in Paris

Pigeons in Paris – panic and take flight – But still alight on – a kind hand outstretched. – a five syllable mountain poem Paris is still here. We have found the city predictably subdued and the security can feel oppressive, albeit necessary, at times. That said, we have been universally welcomed by all. It’s […]

A Limestone Staircase

A limestone staircase- blends with a cloudy sky- yet clouds hold no weight- and a staircase sheds no rain- Be careful with your footsteps- not to mar the clouds- nor pass through stone. -a mountain poem

Wild Meadow Flowers

Wild meadow flowers- stretch behind a pasture fence- and join with the sun. – a haiku poem

Catch your breath

Mossy forest paths – along bright alpine gardens – to catch your breath. -a haiku poem

Alpine Butterflies

Alpine butterflies – Through the expansive valley – Find their flowers. – a haiku poem

Ancient screams echo

Ancient screams echo – through cold granite corridors. – The lord sleeps above. – a haiku poem Written after the dungeon and torture chamber situated below the bedroom at Chateau de Chillon in Montreux, Switzerland.

And on the next day

And on the next day- wind sculpted flowers at peace- with the morning sun. -a haiku poem

A Wildflower Blooms

A wildflower blooms – in astounding directions. – Some long, some short. A haiku poem in memory of Mohima Inspired by the Zen proverb – In the landscape of spring, there is neither better nor worse. The flowering branches grow naturally, some long, some short. These words can be of great consolation in times of tremendous […]

Blowing Crazy Jazz

Sunlit summer leaves- Accents of forest rhythm- Blowing crazy jazz. -a haiku poem This poem was partly inspired by Horace Silver’s “Ah So” off Tokyo Blues

Shadows of Spring

Moisture settles deep – into the shadows of spring – Effervescent green – Pop! Without warning, Autumn red – Full freedom in expression. – -a mountain poem

Serene Forest Toad

Serene forest toad- Paused not with indecision – but clarity. -a haiku poem

Faint purple oxeye

Faint purple oxeye – Swayed by the colorless wind – Steadied by the pale moon. – a haiku poem

Unanswerable Questions

Standing spring grasses- pose unanswerable questions- to wild fox spirits.- Who move too fast to notice- the seeds in their red brown coats. – a tanka poem

Petals on a Fern

Petals on a fern – Animated by the wind – Petals on the ground – Soon returning through decay – How much better to be held. -a mountain poem

Harbor Tugs

Work tugs, halide lights – Rolling gently, evening swell – Floating styrofoam – Fenders whine with dock lines taut – False appearance of order. -a tanka poem

Not much time

There’s not much time – So dress nicely and stay out. – Make your peace, then sleep. -a senryu poem

White Ankle Strap Heels

Old Nikes dry – Next to white ankle strap heels – Laughter from the bedroom. – a senryu poem

Empty Bar Stools

Empty bar stools – empty bar – Half empty bottles – for half empty lives. – Wipe the counter. – an urban mountain poem

Dandelion

Dandelion seeds – Set into the morning air- Counting on the wind – Listen. What becomes of the dandelion? -a haiku poem with capping phrase

One’s True Nature

Rust streaks, flaking blue – Barred and locked yet revealing – One’s true nature. – a haiku poem

Macha Tea

Melting spring snow- Flows down the mountainside- into the sunlight. – Why not sit on tatami – and whisk macha tea? -a tanka poem

Quarter Moon

Half hidden, half seen – The quarter moon arises – Casting no shadows. – a haiku poem A quarter moon surprisingly clear through the light noise of Yokohama on Saturday May 14, 2016.

The Singer

Her song drifts – out with the steam – from the shower. -a senryu poem

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day – The Clematis in full bloom – Catches the child’s eye. – a haiku poem

Shopping for Groceries

Empty bags in hand – Walking to buy groceries – Talking through the list. -a senryu poem

Morning Rain

First cup of coffee- The porch wet with morning rain- The clock is so loud. -a haiku poem

Stamp Collection

Sitting on the shelf – Old postage stamp collection – Spouse’s secret past. -a senryu poem

One Last Banana

One last banana – Spotting brown another day- Perhaps tomorrow. -a senryu poem

Wind Slams the Glass

Rain clouds on rooftops swallow the spring sun and mute the flowers. Silhouettes in puddles fragmented by rain drops against a mirrored sky Then wind slams the glass. Reflections now obscured The flat sky breaks as the water recedes. -a mountain poem This poem was written for Mina who has had to deal with far more illness […]

Winter Hydrangea

There is such a thing – as winter hydrangea – Old and glorious. -a haiku poem

Breath Freezes

Falling snow lands softly – joining the standing trees – with the clouds and the earth – the winter and the spring. – Exhale and breath freezes. -a six syllable mountain poem

Rate of Spring

Graceful leaves open – unfolding with perfection – at the rate of spring. -a haiku poem This macro photo of a flowering kale plant in early spring reveals at least two aspects to it that are particularly striking. The first was the incredible grace of the leaves as they unfold so slowly but dramatically. The second is the […]

Harmony in the Void

Surrounded by sasa* now snow – A tree bends from the earth – As it’s pushed by the mountain wind – Cracking in the dry winter air – Emblazoned by the summer sun – Creative harmony in the void. -an eight syllable mountain poem * Sasa is type of low lying bamboo that covers the open sections […]

A Fresh Wind

Soft, supple, solid – Her love is felt a fresh wind – Hinamatsuri -a haiku poem Hinamatsuri also called “Girl’s Day” in Japan is a annual celebration that honors the daughters in families. In writing this I thought of the feeling of holding our daughter that has been with us since birth along with an insightful […]

Sitting with stilllness-
and sounds of a winter’s dawn-
A fox runs barking.

Speaking on his own behalf –
So not to be cut in two.

-a Tanka poem

On the morning when I wrote this tanka poem I was sitting by a nicely maturing wood fire in the fireplace at our family mountain house in Karuizawa, Japan. It was a little before 6am and I was thinking about Nansen’s Cat when through the early morning forest I heard a repeated whelping. Rushing to the window, I saw a red fox running down the snow covered road barking as he/she went. To the best of my understanding, this behavior is most likely related to the arrival of mating season and demonstrations to attract a suitable mate. In other words a fox just “foxing” in the cold morning air.

The image above was taken very near to the path the fox took with the red in the pine cone perhaps paralleling the stunning red coat of the barking fox.

Feb 28, 2016