30 April 2012

cuckoo in Tokyo



Like the cuckoo
A subway conductor sings
'Okubo... Okubo...'



29 April 2012

Hiding


Daffodils
Hiding
The trash bins.

28 April 2012

sword


The glittering sword
Which shows no remorse
For the lips it's kissed.



26 April 2012

pink


A pink rug
Under the Subaki tree
Says, remove shoes!



25 April 2012

rabbits




Forever is home
To rabbits in Osaka 
Station.



24 April 2012

chopsticks!



How many trees have
YOU eaten 
Chopsticks!



22 April 2012

hotel



This hotel room
Doesn't care 
If it rains or shines.



19 April 2012

whistle


Not to be confused,
The cuckoo and whistle train-
Kyoto dawn.



18 April 2012

cemetery


Tending the rice field
And the cemetery below,
Husband and wife.


17 April 2012

rain


To miss the cherry blooms
After the rains, 
Alas, Kyoto spring!



16 April 2012

petals




Cherry petals,
The littered streets make
Sweepers smile.



handmade

15 April 2012

Tokyo



In Japan
Touching ceilings
Everywhere.



14 April 2012

sheets




Hotel sheets
Open windows
Smelling rain.



13 April 2012

perfume



This shrouded moon,
If it were perfume
It would be you!



12 April 2012

fog


Thick fog-
Is that a lightbulb
Or the morning moon?



10 April 2012

mirror mirror


Each day I glance  
At the wall 
Where a mirror once was.



08 April 2012

nightingale


This evening
First nightingale
Fell from heaven.



07 April 2012

plum


The moon tonight,
So big, it split the plum tree
In half.



05 April 2012

sparrows


In the acacia tree
Two sparrows look for roof-
April rain.

03 April 2012

blossom


'Poetry is nice'
I say to the cherry blossom
'But, one has to eat!'



02 April 2012

spider



The house empties,
Too bashful to make a web-
The lonely spider.



Marcus Aurelius


Take care not to be Caesarified, or dyed in purple: it happens. So keep yourself simple, good, pure, serious, unpretentious, a friend of justice, god-fearing, kind, full of affection, strong for your proper work. Strive hard to remain the same man that philosophy wished to make you. Revere the gods, look after men. Life is short. The only harvest of existence on earth is a godly habit of mind and social action.


from Meditations, Book 6, 30
Marcus Aurelius,







01 April 2012

tulips



Closing up shop
After a day's work-
Red tulips.



Japan again