I shovel snow
from Cleveland front lawn
just to see green

crow’s breath
after caw hangs,
winter air

snow furrow cornfield,
old woman peering
in roadside mailbox

office windowsill
fly poised for flight
three months now

sakura petals fallen
she gathers them in small hands
spills them on soft breeze

Kerouac, we knock
your pickled bones together,
zen be-bop

America, more guns
than people, more bullets
than tears

it took 800 years
for Roman Empire’s fall —
they had no internet

first man to walk
on the moon has died,
his footprint still up there

cleaning my office
I find a faded article,
“cleaning your office”

between bright stars
and atoms inside I spin,
breath burning away

I.
Life goes by moving,
Up and down a chain of moods
Wanting what’s nothing.

II.
My soul is the wind
Dashing down fields of Autumn:
O, too swift to sing.

III.
Listen to the rain
Falling broken on the ground:
Pity the sky once.

IV.
Knowing not at all
Who stands above me seeing:
Tears of gratitude.

V
The nightingale sings
My heart desires but the night
Space swallows my voice:

VI.
I shall spend my moods
Like a rose discards leaves
And die without moods.

VII.
Did you say a sound?
Did you say the wind? Dashing
Only my soul’s quick—

VIII.
O moon of to-night
Let me rest my head on you
And hear my life sing.

IX.
My ears burn for speech
And you lie cold and silent
Supinely cruel:

X.
Look at the white moon
The sphinx does not question more.
Turn away your eyes.

XI.
Thought that is no thought
Poems buried in my heart
Song that is no song …

XII
The poetry of life?
No, the picture of my dreams
Flashing on my heart.

XIII
I ride down the stream
Between the earth and the sun
On the moon’s shadow.

XIV
Treading wearily
A unit of the parade
There is no escape.

XV.
Within the shadow
I am weaving the pattern
Of a spider web.

XVI
My heart like a shell
Moans at the breast of the earth
Being too full to sing.

XVII
You are life’s fountain
Springing from eternity
Flow not recklessly.

XVIII
I will wrap the song
In the leaves of the lotus
And send it to you.

XIX
No words speak louder
Than the tragic look of eyes
Close yours out of love.

XX
Why should I wander
I who have known no surprise?
Every day the same.

I am but a leaf
Clinging to the tree of life
In the world’s garden.
****
Last night I saw you,
A dream rose and I your stem;
Showing you the sun. 
****
They tear at my heart—
The days that knew no desire.
For they were wasted.
****
Night shadows woo me.
I cling to the crescent moon
Like the evening star.
****
The moon—ah the moon
Draped in the velvet of night
Brocaded with stars.
****
Do not bring lanterns
I say, “Darkness is supreme
Delight beyond words.”
****
Drops of silver blood
Are falling from the sky’s heart.
All the world has woe.
****
O night of Shadows
Seal my lips with your magic
Of silent beauty!

                    ^{(from Pluck Gems from Graves: Haikus, a book in progress).}

33.
This evening’s Black sound
Walks like a cat on grass blades
Your nickname two-steps

22.
Get back to your poems
Don’t forget to wear your mask
Main Street is empty

58.
Can’t rock your hoodie
Your cliques of affinity
Might lead to arrest

24.
A virus walk break
Twilight stroll to compost bin
Two rusty leaves rap

77.
Go ’head, bro, dance
There are no mirrors in this joint
You used to love her

29.
Draw her some roses
The before times are ending
Lost my love letters

40.
Pandemic fashion
The maples need to speak up
Detroit Reds all day

34.
To live in this hour
Recall a jukebox love song—
Punk-ass church bells

13.
Perfect ending
A red-tail rolls over the steeple
Dandelion gigs

4.
Pull the dream catcher
A death count on the broadcast
April is chillin’

49.
A bebop wake up
Getting my shit together
Brew some Bustelo