spinning stars, planets
gears powering galaxies,
floating night machines

fleeting time becomes
running late from place to place
dealing with something,
when softy she asked, please, come,
sit awhile with me,
quietly, time simply stopped,
gently holding hands
feeling pained by having time
while hers now is short,
exchanging words while shadows
danced slowly across the floor

you heard the call
signed your name
drilled then went off to war,
so far from home
to do your duty
to do your job
to fulfill the mission,
you came home
home as a hero to all
 
you say the real hero's
never returned
i can not debate that point
i was not there,
in our eyes
you are a hero just the same
 
saying only you were doing your job
carrying out the mission
protecting your buddies
as they watched over you,
completing a pledge
made among each other
a lifetime ago
 
you obeyed your oath
while performing a sacred task
fulfilling that pledge without hesitation
making sure any fallen buddy
returned home
 
home to their country
home to their land
home to their family
home to their remembrance
home to their resting place
 
having completed far more
then was asked of you
to a grateful nation
you did return,
home you came to me
for eternity to stay
never leaving my side ever again

into sidewalk cracks
small seeds fall, reappearing
white flowers of peace

tanka 4.1

two floors down, a man
died suddenly this morning,
recently moved in
never met him out walking
never did learn his full name


tanka 4.2

true in his future
had many windows replaced
the labels still cling,
this morning, two floors down, a
man died, nothing could be done

within nature’s realm
no imperfections exist
what is, nature meant,
imperfections, play of words,
growing, flowing, rewriting

black wings are spread wide,
cormorants, anhingas dry
plume in coral sun