Why is it so, that
In the guiltless suffering
We wander so deep
So lost and astray in thought
To create and contemplate

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

fireworks soar tonight
rockets of red, white and blue,
oooh’s and aaaah’s
between bangs, booms and thunder
rejuvenates our resolve

full jaundiced moon
an icon out of focus
night heat of urban smog
cannot be blinked away
distant events appear smeared

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

A helpless mourner
Lilting in her deep sorrows
Raven in darkness
To lighten her nightly scars
Whispered her pray’rs to Selene

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