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

New Beginning

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

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 […]

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Mother’s Day

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

Morning Rain

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

Winter Hydrangea

There is such a thing – as winter hydrangea – Old and glorious. -a haiku 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 […]

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 […]

Bulbul Presence

A brown eared bulbul – Is quick to taste the mikan – Quick to let it go. -a haiku poem The hiyodori (brown eared bulbul) is a permanent non-migrating resident of the kanto region where we live. Its noisy calls wake us in the morning but it seems so happy to have an orange.

Forgotten Feet

A blue heron stands – In a frozen mountain stream – Forgetting his feet. – a haiku poem Slightly upstream from where this photo was taken a blue heron had found some early winter shelter from New Year’s tourists in this stream within some secluded woods in Karuizawa, Japan. I didn’t want to disturb him/her […]

Seeds for a New Year

Seeds and pappus* alight – Memories of the year frozen – A gentle wind blows. -a haiku poem *The pappus is a feathery structure that allows the seeds of plants to be carried away by the wind. While alight means to come down from and settle which is a relevant image, the allusion to illuminate is fun to […]

Winter Daffodils

Winter daffodils – Look neither for sun nor warmth – yet brighten the shade. -a haiku poem

Pampas Grass Mushin

It is just enough – To see pampas grass growing – Upward to the sun. -a haiku poem

Clouds, Sunshine, and Stone

Reflecting the sky – A pool on the riverbank – Clouds, sunshine, and stone. -a haiku poem This haiku poem was sparked by the scene captured in this image taken on my Android Phone near Kagura Ski Resort in Niigata, Japan.

Seasons and Cold Nights

Seasons and cold nights – Turns ginko leaves to gold – and hair to grey. -a haiku poem

Suspended Bouquet

Suspended bouquet –

With relaxed indifference –

A leaf in the stream –

a haiku poem

Old Dried Plum

A dried plum’s texture-

After years of sun and wind –

Whispers “tomorrow” –

a haiku about impermanence

Pale and Shivering

Autumn flowers wait – For winter to take their souls – Pale and shivering – a haiku poem

Autumn Pine Wind

Among autumn leaves –

Clouds too high to touch above –

The pine wind blows peace

– This Autumn Pine haiku poem is in response to being in the cool air of the mountains again in late October. Some of the imagery has been inspired by the translated Zen poems of Cold Mountain (Hanshan)and Stonehouse (Shiwu).

A Monk Sits Zazen

A monk sits zazen –

The breeze drifts through open doors –

Neither warm nor cold

– a haiku poem

All night gentle waves –

Washing up onto the sand –

Join my breath in sleep.

– a haiku poem about Iwachi, Shizuoka

Tatami

Woven tatami –

Discarded and cast aside –

A body, a soul

Snugged down and tightened –

Fearful of losing control –

Pressure breaks the wood.

– a haiku poem

Cool Autumn Evening

The distant dog barks –
All alone after nightfall –
Joining the crickets

Summer Ends

The Bush Warbler – Whose song welcomed summer – Is silent tonight – a haiku poem

Elephant Lacquer

elephant lacquer –
evading understanding –
rest, life flourishes

O’Keeffe’s World

Open – Anthers, stigma, extending but – Shaded from view – – a mountain poem After Georgia O’Keeffe “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

Idea Pollination

There are no words – That neither of us means harm – Just understanding. -a haiku poem