fog and weeping sky
dancing red and yellow leaves
fleeting happiness

golden moon and stars
cats are out on nightly walks
dreams of warmth and love

cold and icy field
wintry roads and snowy hills
bleak and sorrow mind

festive busyness
smell of cinnamon and warmth
happiness returns

waiting for the boat
stormy waters and grey sky
anxious is her mind

house of memories
I shall not visit again
yellow sun brings hope

white and glistening snow
trees and paths seem not the same
stillness touches me

bright moon on black sky
cold winter night and white snow
longing for your love

red sun, misty sky,
smell of earth and evergreen,
vast uncertainty

angry storm outside
warmth and comfort in the house
waiting for the change

majestic mountains
red boat floating on the lake
happiness for me

dark sky and no moon
fleeting images of clouds
grieving is my soul

waiting for the day
when all the leaves are coloured
expectation of joy

rainy and bleak town
smileless faces rushing past
sadness engulfs me

leaves are turning red
birds are on their journey home
distant sense of joy

happiness at last
dancing in the rain and mist
smiling at the moon

Tiredness and loss
Darkness, wind and heavy rain
Hope is just a dream

celebrating fall
yellow leaves and misty sky
warmth and love at home

barren fields and trees
I have lost my ikigai
empty is my soul

walking on the sand
looking for tomorrow’s goals
shadows haunting me

misty sky and wind
mountains enveloped in clouds
sorrow fills my soul

yellow leaves and morning fog
days are getting short
desire to slow down

skies are grey and dull
sipping coffee on her own
heavy heart and soul

writing to my friend
connecting with pen and joy
happy is my soul

black sky and bright moon
foxes on their nightly hunt
anxious thoughts appear

sunshine and laughter
blue sky and turquoise water
smiling is my soul

yellow leaves and me
joyful dancing with the wind
autumn happiness

walking towards you
sunshine warmth and tenderness
there is hope for me

happiness and you
yellow flowers and red sun
summer has arrived

grey sky and red sun
yellow meadows brightly shine
black cats gently stretch

gentle breeze and rain
earthen smells and steaming pond
when will summer end

happy new year
she smiles
happy new year
she sings
happy new year
she hopes

It must be hard
to smile
he says
when everybody
wants you to fail.

But your smile
is more beautiful
he adds
because you know
what they expect.

why was he
allowed to do the project
but I was not

why was he
given the job
but I was not

why does he
live in a big house
but I do not

why do I
not want to know
the answers
to these questions

she looks at him
and wonders
if helping him
would also
destroy him

I sit next to you
but you only see her

I am talking to you
but you only hear her voice

I hold your hand
but you long for her touch

I realise
your heart is still occupied
and all I can do is leave…

impatiently
he looked at her
stop complaining
and make a decision

taken aback
by his lack of kindness
she made the decision
to leave him

You should live
in the here and now
he said.

This will make you
happy and relaxed
as the past can
no longer hurt you
and the future
has yet to happen.

When he gently
kissed my face
I understood
what he meant.

I watch her
carefully disassembling
her life.

Every facet of her life
is looked at and
stripped down
to its essentials.
Nothing is left untouched.
Everything is assessed.

When all the pieces
of her life
are neatly laid out
in front of her
she smiles and begins
to assemble
a new and better life
for herself.

who are you writing for
he asks
having just read
one of her poems

not for you
she answers
and leaves the room

she thinks
she is astonished
she wonders
how could she
have forgotten
that happiness
you do not find
but create

she smiles
she stands up
tall
strong
fearless
determined
and begins
to create

I was in love with two men
and decided to choose you

now I know better

I should not have chosen
either of you

I watch him
shaping a mug
on the pottery wheel

fully concentrated on the task
he firmly pushes down the clay
and then gently pulls it up
to create the perfect mug

I wonder if I will feel
his strength and gentleness
when I drink from his mug

will she
ever
be able
to write again
or have
his words
finally
destroyed her

I know
you hate our home town
but I love it

You see only pain and darkness
and death
when we walk through the narrow streets
but I see joy and brightness and life

Why are we so different

she hopes
he will make
the first move

he hopes
she will make
the first move

last time
when I saw them
they were both
still hoping

she walks through the streets
without knowing
where she will end up

left right and left again
up and down
and straight ahead

she follows her soul
hoping that she will find
what she is looking for

I would like to talk to you
but I do not know how

I would like to say I am sorry
but I cannot find the right words

So I need to be silent and hope
that you can do better than I