one-on-one

“For one throb of the artery,

While on that grey stone I sat

Under the old wind-broken tree,

I knew that One is animate,

Mankind inanimate phantasy.

(in A Meditation In the Time of War

by W.B. Yeats)

i spoke one-on-one with Paul

exchanging on the depth he evokes

knowing again my care for persons

and wariness of people

a-bornin’

haiku

morning a-bornin’

pale, infant colors hinting

at growing strength, joy

loud laugh

jokester now

but i seldom speak

heart-to-heart

cuts too deep into a mortal

heart struggling with

mortality

skyline speaks

haiku

skyline speaks of pine

as buildings, brilliant neon lights

obliterate stars

modesty clouds

haiku

rich blue modesty

clouds for dawn’s awakening

slip into the day

flagrant golden dawn

haiku

flagrant golden dawn

flinging pink, mauve and yellow

north, south and earthward

laughter and pride

laughter with grands, now young adults

well into their education and careers

able to cross wits and insights with me

difficult to bluff, unaccepting of untruth

so proud of them, although the credit

is due to the wisdom of their parents

richer by far

in this community living

for the laughter at our table

for the barbs given and taken

            with wit and smiles

for the freedom to leave as needed

            for the undisturbed

            haven of our own space

for the quiet words of concern

            and comfort as we lean

            near to be heard by

            only ourselves

delicious

a meal of solid food

after days of gut-twisted pain

ahhh celebration

celebrate Chinese New Year

camelia blossoms

fall to pink-hide koi in pond

sticky rice tea cupped

dragon draped from the ceiling

lunar new year fete

in downtown Chinese Gardens

new year of the horse

haiku

lunar new year births

koi swim under flower petals

Chinese music plucked

wander v wonder

wander aimlessly

hoping to stumble on the rock

that rests on the truth

but learning leans on  

awareness and honesty

to always question

pre-dawn blue

 haiku

before dawn can break

sapphire sky these chill mornings

intense blue of joy

gray dawn

haiku

 all business now

no rosy cheeks, day’s blessing

clouds just split for light

ignoring the gift

haiku

 sorry to give in

to temptation to gripe-whine

while dawn is awing

Law v liars

law and order

battle cry for both sides

since ICE can lie

(even in the face of videos

to the contrary)

about its murders

without consequence

ice melts in warmth; not so lies

ice melts in warmth

ICE may not melt in hugs

but it will be well to remember

that these combat-geared, unidentified

enforcers have been convinced

they are saving our country

from the worst of the enemy aliens

who are ruining our economy

and attacking our families

propaganda lies are powerful

in motivation and protective

against other points of view

even to the point of many accepting

three murders as an acceptable cost

in accomplishing their mission

protest, yes, but forego the hate

it is the lies we must fight

by confronting the liars

brown-shirted ice

haiku

among friends is fear

to walk their children to school

where brown ice awaits

sound it out

the louder the laugh,

  the deeper the pain

singing in the rain

  one carol of joy

gasp out of nightmare

  paralyzed with dread

the persecuted are quiet

  for fear, for fear

silvered sunshine

haiku

silvered sunshine viewed

through glistening jeweled raindrops

a treasured morning