marking autumn's close
endless shadows of bare trees
lay on sleeping lands

achieved the art of
becoming extremely quiet

achieved the art of
never wishing to engage

achieved the art of
wanting to be left alone

achieved the art of
becoming a wallflower

achieved the art of
wanting to be overlooked

achieved the art of
dreaming of things never done

achieved the art of
comfortably holding back

achieved the art of
observation, listening

achieved the art of
living as an introvert
with peace of heart, mind, and soul

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

broken pencils do write
snapped crayons still color

dried pens never talk
empty toners cartridges do not print

squeezed lemons reveal secrets
chalky chunks mark sidewalks green

introverts reserve their words
in volumes the quiet do speak

deep, gray sky backdrops
golden wheat in soft, dusk sun
ends a day of storms

on the horizon
pushed onward by salty winds
sails in florida

on sidewalks rain falls
creating a leopard look
fading into gray

mercifully short
still february lingers
under cold, wind clouds

ignorance is bliss
it also gets you eaten
by the crocodile

marking all world’s edge
far cumulonimbus rise,
beyond uncharted
galaxies of light appear
floating high in soft blue sky

all day rain fell soft
dusk brought air thick and steamy
within night’s darkness
first fireflies of summer flew
as dancers of the night air

one day i will tire
lay my tablet down to rest
then never retouch
for any creative use
bury me with tablet on

rains fall, palm trees sway
lighting flashes, thunder rolls
storms in florida

life is serious
living not, enjoy its ride
once upon a time

outside wicked things
like manatees and dragonflies
truly lurk about,
tricksters known for much no good,
tickling little toes
walking on little noses
messing with your hair
buzzing all over your ears
splashing faces wet
with forceful tails, wings and fins,
manatees love to sneak
a kiss, so watch out they have
a muzzle that is
abrasive beyond belief,
learned trust not those that
are of restless heart and soul
such as these lively
manatees and dragonflies that
dart endlessly point to point

wind chimes hang still, quite,
hummingbirds dart, hours later
graceful tones play

shannon is not gone
part of her passed unto you
life is forever

leaving summer’s heat
a pink flamingo flew south
then danced on white snow

spinning stars, planets
gears powering galaxies,
floating night machines

unseen arriving
turns silent night’s foggy air
light shadows figures

deep into the night
enjoyment is the stillness,
with a single light
undertake this time to write,
good, bad or so, so
i care not, joy just matters,
known this is not my calling

word usage be wise
for the universe feels both
spoken, unspoken

north’s pale april sun
a faint, hazy, chilly sun
low in long shadows

clouds rumble deeply
below, worlds tremble and shake,
distant land’s laughter

outside my window
frogs sing out to each other,
i am lost within
hidden words in foreign keys
hidden chants in deep, low notes

it was myself i
needed to get away from
not the element

it happened today,
without hesitation, time
simply continued

rains fall gently deep
into the nighttime’s still air
cleansing the world all

the sun knows, out there
are more powerful forces
but it keeps spinning,
radiant in life without
a care in the universe

an alarm goes off
again a clock hit its mark
ending restless sleep

it was fun, given
up freely for growing old
so much in life is

trials are many
the goal just get though today

i do not know what
tomorrow will bring us, but
at least it is tomorrow

why, why, why, why, why,
simply, i only ask why,
never an answer

looking at a sky
blue and white, i am grateful
to just be alive

i moved to key west
when told to lower my salt
life in florida

wide-eyed cats dream each
night of catching bright, full moons,
gazing mesmerized
scrutinizing its movement
leaping until morning sun

beach towels, beach tents
beach *****, beach castles, beach kites
sands of florida

i sit back, eyes closed
feeling the sun’s tranquil warmth
envelope me whole

shiny wind chimes hang
though a breezeless summer day
silently sleeping

looking for a space
among blue florida keys
to watch passing clouds
rising, falling then changing
from white to vivid pastels

moments enjoyed when
the house is softly quiet

no sounds to be heard
yet this stillness speaks to me

calming my spirit
removing agitation

sleeping nightly deep
becoming safely encased
within strong arms of quiet

today, august first
in a month september first
not accepting this
ninth month an omen of cold
aptly named as much
beginning of four “ber” months
that time of year when
conversations begin with
brrr, cold enough for you now

i have out lived life
everything i had is gone,
only memories
i carry now, rest my home
as i once upon lived life

for a day they say
it’s your birthday, not so fast,
to me, it’s more an
anniversary, one long
past the diamond jubilee

time stopped, held my breath
skies cleared into azure blue
all had become right

the firefly cometh
glowing hot in july nights
summer is passing

how will it all end
under ukrainian blue

of an ancient land
freedoms are dust on rubble

dreams, hopes, place, and lives
lay shattered among glass shards

only wanting their
country for life and culture

how will it all end
under ukrainian blue

how will it all end
on ukrainian yellow

after countless red
has been spilled upon its soil

death in destruction
has been brought upon its land

scorched, burned, barren lies
a once rich, plentiful land

how will it all end
on ukrainian yellow

by a crazed bald bear
its land brutalized, swallowed

normal life becomes
mass graves, running terrified

its people scattered
among four distant corners

how will it all end
under ukrainian blue
on ukrainian yellow

air only moves if
pelicans flap feathered wings
in tropical air

seven days ago
spring’s start was celebrated
then heavy snows fell
winter ignored the memo
the marching band carried on

burnt orange, teal trim
beach cottage apparel splashed
against pastel clouds