Friday, July 31, 2009

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Monoku #9


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... swelling belly ~ swelling doubts ...

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Monoku #8


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... wet streets ~ headlights, red lights ...

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Monoku #7


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... where is she ~ how is she ...

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Monoku #6


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... gull feather ~ wet sand ...

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Monoku #5


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... parched sparrow ~ scratchy song ...

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Monoku #4


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... key lime fly ~ key lime pie ...

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Monoku #3


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... steaming night ~ fevered moon ...

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Monoku #2


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... rotting apple ~ sticky tipsy ant ...

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Monoku #1


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fresh-cut grass ~ aparagus shoes

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009


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Quick, my sparrows!
Hide away, hide
... morning rips to flame!

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Sparrows sweetly
for the morning's
... passionate peaches.

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Humid sunrise
the stenchy butters
... of summer.

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Weighs of tenderness:
the dream of unbreaking
... the broken heart.

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Weighs of tenderness:
gifting lovely words
... to spare a rose.

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Nook and clutter
shh, the fey mischief
... of a mouse.

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A rare hop
in her crusty shuffle
... New-2-U dumpster shoes.

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This pause, this notice
a simple keepsake
... of pressed clover.

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Half the moon
half the usual shadows
... watching.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009


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Half-faced moon
stepping home
... to one more step away.

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Candy sunset
stuck to a caramel cedar
... licorice crows.

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Weighs of tenderness:
I-love-you's
... whispered to the rain.

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Weighs of tenderness:
holding in darkness
... one's own hand.

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Weighs of tenderness:
knowing eyes, the gifted smiles
... of strangers.

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Weighs of tenderness:
a smooth stone returned
... to river.

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Weighs of tenderness:
a found feather
... a kept letter.

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Weighs of tenderness:
sound of a lover sleeping
... the scent of her dreams.

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Autumn's secret circus
rehearsing in summer's
... singed leaves.

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Sticky sleepless night
even the clock
... pick-a-pick-a-pick!

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Monday, July 27, 2009


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No time
for what I will not see
... Fly dragon! Fly!

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Summer sunset
a pale meadow smelling
... of scorched butter.

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Fluttering stars
a man's trembling hand
... the dragonfly still.

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Flight of crows
the charred heralding edge
... of night.

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Walking a quiet road
summer lambs in the shade
... giggling.

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The loving seasons
of two lovers
... 'til only seasons remain.

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White dragonfly
a piece of your story
... now, a peace of mine.

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Burning sparrows
dragging, scraping summer
... stewing, stewing me.

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Saturday, July 25, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009


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Dandelions, true
they dew too
... in the morning do.

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Crowdsandsubways
noseatnoroomnowords.

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Oh, squirrel!
What mess! What spoil's left
... to morrow?

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Caw-Caw-Caw!
Yes, good point, but give it time
... crow.

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Crackling leaves
a downed poplar
... tales and teachings.

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It's coming, coming
Now crow! Now!
... and she leaps.

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Once but meekly
bells of morning glory
... to wake the sparrows.

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A jay's raspy alarm
Yes, sillyhead, it's time
... for sparrows.

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Night thick
to grains of morrow thinly
... from mountains.

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Thursday, July 23, 2009


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Oh dear and dreadful!
No muffins today
... little mouse!

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Shh, the other bees
need not know
... blossom dreamer.

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As if last voice
the best chickadee
... a chickadee can.

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Tell of train windows
stains streaking, the streaks staining
... by and by and on.

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Folding worries
failing light
... falling rain.

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In creasing hands
she's still searching
... that one search.

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At play
in what might have been
... she summer dreams.

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Yes, my love
and did I mention
... yes, always yes.

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Train girl
even the fall of her hair
... wishes love.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009


__________


Poor crow
just can't raise
... an ev'ning ruckus.

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Dragonfly in the sun
dreaming, surely
... of white tigers.

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Ah,
red dragonfly
... a laughing lamb!

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We can wait
say the trees, we can wait
... for sunset.

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While the deer chews
a towhee
... sneezing?

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In his own words
the towhee's
... urgent news.

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Where the poet
sat dreaming
... sweet grass and clover.

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Was thinking
no Steller's Jays today
... silly.

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Today
the sun's rage
... tender and remorseful.

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Though just a memory
her voice, her face
... sting enough.

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Passing through
a tender breeze
... for other hearts.

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Another world
reflecting in a window
... another me?

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By morning
these sunset shadows
... washed away.

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For the rat
living under my steps
... a day of cleaning.

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Pruned cherry tree
again prancing in the breeze
... all's forgiven.

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Despite the heat
with more flip and flair
... meadow grasses.

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As you'd expect
blue dragonfly
... surfing the meadow.

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Scratching
for who knows what
... sparrow in the gutter.

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So quiet
a towhee
... snoring in shade.

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Meadow dandelions
and daisies
... just where they must be.

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Fingers of flame
tracing something new
... of that old story.

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Night so soon
and sparrows without songs
... of regret.

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The blanket folds
and baking sun
... peels to breezes.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009


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She leads, she waits
he joins, he follows
... songs of chickadees.

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What angers
the sun so, little fly
... did you, or did I?

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No cooler seas
for the gull crying
... to cedars.

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Sun's hammering rage
a dragonfly's
... glass shadow.

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Even in shade
the little moth
... crisping.

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Tones of silence:
beyond memory of song
... and why.

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Tones of silence:
paper notes lost
... beneath paper notes.

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Saturday, July 18, 2009


__________


Tones of silence:
the poet's vision
... gone.

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Tones of silence:
pocket watch
... unneeded.

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Tones of silence:
old ballerina
... remembering.

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Tones of silence:
dust crossing light
... and away.

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Tones of silence:
a candle
... burnt.

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Tones of silence:
moonlight beetles
... aimlessly.

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Tones of silence:
an open wound
... briefly forgotten.

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Tones of silence:
crow sitting
... without complaint.

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Tones of silence:
morning dewdrops
... shrinking.

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Tones of silence:
spider's silk
... floating free.

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Tones of silence:
summer leaves
... curling.

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Tones of silence:
the sparrow's voice
... cold.

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Tones of silence:
sweat tracing
... down a cold glass.

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Tones of silence:
sunset scraping
... a white wall.

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Tones of silence:
a fluttering cascade
... of petals.

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Tones of silence:
dragonfly and the reed
... swaying.

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The sparrow's song
Lament for a Trimmed Bush
... my earned rebuke.

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Friday, July 17, 2009


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Smears of place
time's stretched face
... photos from a train.

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On the forest shore
he stands lamenting
... footprints.

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Poverty sparrows
sharing a small gift
... of water.

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Yielding mind
yielding heart
... yielding earth.

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Sunset forest
bleeding the sticky saps
... of shadow.

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Peels of Summerland:
portly robins gorging
... on meager cherries.

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Scrapings of sun
across an overpainted door
... to cold bridges.

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Old man waking
to a worried head
... and cold shoes.

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A thickness
of what's missing
... from an empty room.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2009


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Peels of Summerland:
the gentle trance
... of sunset.

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Peels of Summerland:
crows ignoring
... these Dramalands below.

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Peels of Summerland:
a hurried jay
... rattling peanuts.

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Peels of Summerland:
the mouth-watering dip
... of apple boughs.

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Peels of Summerland:
dandy faeries scattering
... in the ev'ning light.

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Peels of Summerland:
damselflies teasing
... above the shy clover.

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They's a cold mist
on up 'n over this hill
... a crawlin' in.

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Dusky crows
some kind o' slapstick
... at my expense.

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Thick chilling fog
haunting cries of flickers
... in autumn dress.

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Cold summer mornin'
a sweet hush from the birds
... sleepin' in.

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Skippity hoppity
mine all mine, crow's just found
... a pebble.

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Sparrow's tiny song
does she know she sings
... of crossroads?

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009


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Cain't rightly explain
why little maples
... put it all right.

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Near fifty years
'n Oh! that moon
... sweet as ever.

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They's plenty tellin' me
this ain't that ain't this
... well, it's somethin'

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Next fork
of the Drift-On Byway
... yep, I mean to.

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She laughs and says
lovers are made to part
... some baby, some.

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With windy aspens
who've forgotten why
... I run, and we run.

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Monday, July 13, 2009


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Summer morning rain
this where, elsewhere
... ev'ry looky-there stain of Earth.

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She-crow asks
Caw-caw-caw?
... Well, not if I can help it.

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Why, bricked window?
What's your stain?
What've you seen?

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Absent summer frogs
perhaps ...
on hoppabout.

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We calls it summer
but the trees, well, they calls it
... somethin' I cain't say.

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Jus' waltzed right in
'n sat a spell
... winter in July.

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Never figured moths
for salt 'n pepper
... 'ems colors too, I s'pose.

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Night
and a puddle of rain
... my toes in the stars.

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Don't they know
trees won't be commanded
... by crows.

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Inaccessible
stories
... of a bricked doorway.

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Spoiling the quiet
far away machines
... and their monkeys.

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An old broom's bristles
remnants of a spider's
... half-baked schemes.

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My willow's
a bit rusty, still
... her song's lovely.

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I can't
quit the trees who can't
... understand such things.

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Isn't it
an act of compassion
... this little bridge.

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Waitin' their moment
Shh ...
frogs in the briar.

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Saturday, July 11, 2009


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Ol' pond 'n me
little frog
... bummin' smokes.

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Thanks to Twitter's Tweetiebard
for comparing my work to
"Matsuo Basho Meets Kris Kristofferson"
What can you say to that but
Thanks.


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Shine moon, shine
gotta keep them crows
... from matches!

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It's a playful breeze
it's wisps of buttered jasmine
... it's cherish come home.

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Forgotten old cabin
still home
... The Still-Takin' Inn.

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Sweating tea
sweating me
... melting we.

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She and me
and all those usual magicks
... of twilight.

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The widow spider
and her lacy basket
... picnic of horrors.

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Ever'thin 'round here
jus' a passin' on by
... 'cept wild daisies.

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Wisteria fingers
reaching, curling
... comin' for us all.

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Shoo now, shoo!
this ain't no horror tea
... little spider.

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Little black spider
wrapping goodies
... for Someday brunch.

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Look a'yonder
my shadow
... smokin' too!

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Wake up, my love
wake up
... first best religion.

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Thursday, July 9, 2009


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An urgency of crows
bickering
... along the way.

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To find, to reach
the final blossom
... prayers of bees.

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Come-Come-Come!
Treasure is found! Treasure!
... cries the crow.

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Sunset butterfly
too slight for shadow
... too quick for name.

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Flash and flaunt
and endless plunder
... prayers of Steller's Jays.

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Please, he cries! Please!
Oh, what is it?
... What's happened, flicker?

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Stains of penance
the mosquito's shadow
... on both hands.

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Out of the forest
old owl's echo
... prowls alone.

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Falcon and mouse
days of quick-enough
... a day too far.

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So, burns the sparrow
too small to hold
... his share of joy.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2009


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Surely, Steller's Jay
there's more to it
... than laugh and plunder!

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What ch'ya got?
What ch'ya got, Steller's Jay?
... Where d'ya get it?

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Secret marriage
Rowan and Cedar
... love the one you're with.

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Little finch
tiny one
... what say you of fences?

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Under the moon
little moth's last flight
... to the paper's edge.

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Eyes of Fae recesses
watch from the dark addresses
... of bramble.

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Paper
teasing shadow
... silly moth.

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Sunrise in the forest
summer steps closer
... to the edge of endings.

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Damselfly
sailing the voice
... of a secret cello.

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No meanings
no intentions
... petals in the wind.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2009


__________


Today, no truce
robins and robins
... and ripe cherries.

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Paths of centuries
and the petal
... falls.

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Sprints
of dragonflies
... in the failing light.

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Ends yet to come
but some to a stag
... chewing grass.

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A small thing
dancing dances I must
... like grasses.

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Skies never home
and trees barred from wander
... mates of envy.

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Monday, July 6, 2009


__________


Away and drifting
knowing the trees
... cannot lose their minds.

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Once, but now
I only dream
... of dreams in maples.

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Shuffled old man
appointing to pavements
... his last disputes.

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Wise and kindly trees
saying softly
... nevermind the crows.

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Like clockwork
the morning crow
... complains.

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Masterful grosbeak
telling me precisely
... what I must hear.

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More heart, more
to a morning that asks
... little else.

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A stag's beard
dripping
... of apples.

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A woodpecker
quite smitten
... with my dull old hat.

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Sir Robin sits
amused at my mocking
... the Steller's Jay.

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Through uncertain grasses
Mrs. Beetle stretching
... her morning legs.

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Cherries near ripe
warring robins set aside
... their Buddha nature.

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Saturday, July 4, 2009


__________


For trees their kindnesses
sparrows gladly sing
... the Sunrise Song.

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Damselfly magicks
with tiny hopes
... to silver meadows.

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T'ain't no harm waitin'
ta see summer crows
... dancin' 'cross the moon!

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Parched July moon
just scraping the reach
... of alders.

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Shoo 'way preacha' crow!
Won'tcha gimme peace?
... Find some otha' tree!

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Overcooked crow
come ta peddle me black
... jus' gotta laugh.

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Friday, July 3, 2009


__________


Shush now, rabbits
hush my dears
... red hawk comes a-praying.

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Thursday, July 2, 2009


__________


And suddenly, crows
cutting the purple dress
... of twilight.

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Tasty penances
left for crows who see
... too clearly.

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A drifting hawk
but I recall so few days
... with kites.

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Things to remember:
her love of crows, and our love
... of her.

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Things to remember:
voices of trees unafraid
... moments like that.

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To woods I resolve
a happy fool
... to tiny old spirits.

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The flicker wails
to timid breeze and horizon
... shh, it's his moment.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009


__________


Earth sleeps, hearts atone
and crows ascend
... 'til night is done.

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Of crows
I can't dismiss
... they fear none of this.

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Like the hawthorn
keeping to thick forest dreams
I'm found ... and lost.

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__________


Are too many steps
to follow the whirling dance
... of a willow.

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__________


Lovely morning, yes
but perhaps, for keen sparrows
... urgency's the thing.

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Last to the music
the rasps and rattles
... of the Steller's Jay.

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__________


The little sparrow
quite insistent
... Morning's here!

__________




__________


Comes and goes
a lucky cherry given flight
... red dragonfly.

__________




__________


Stumbling through meadow
with so many questions
... bound to follow.

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__________


I find her, love her
in dreams that are only dreams
... on trains.

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Smoldering sunrise
and the cottonwood burns
... before all others.

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A crow reminds
as scoundrel, he is artist
... and master.

__________




__________


Tender conspiracy
dragonflies coaxing me
... to meadow.

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__________


Fae summer grasses
clinging and weaving, digging
... to who knows where.

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__________


Such strange magicks
cast into winds by the tips
... of cherry leaves.

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