gentle, cloudless night

gentle, cloudless night
rising moon through tree branches
so the journey ends

movement defines life

movement defines life,
which spins even in stillness,
tethered to the earth

all return to soil

all return to soil
our earthen body's last rite
so plant your seeds now

water maple seeds

water maple seeds
kids chasing helicopters
catch them if you can

Wake up, O sleeper!

Wake up, O Sleeper!
The World is yours to behold:
Write down what you see

bird on a stop sign

bird on a stop sign
casts a sideways glance at me
mutually amused

Color, Life's herald

Color, Life's herald,
proclaims the return of Spring:
nīkē!... victory

a caged gorilla

a caged gorilla
once the mighty jungle-king
now kids point and laugh

a willow weeping

a willow weeping
april is the cruelest month
with birth must come pain

spring-pink snow shower

spring-pink snow shower
eastern redbud petals swirl
sweet scented blizzard

a warm breeze tonight

a warm breeze tonight
rest and watch the stars appear
what secrets they hold!

self love and self hate

self love and self hate
two sides of the same, vain coin
pitch it in the well

At mass yesterday, the priest talked about a bird outside his office that kept flying into the window at its reflection. He had two thoughts on this: 1) the bird was in love with its reflection (narcissism) or 2) the bird was attacking its reflection (self loathing). It just made me think about how both self love and self hate are really equal expressions of self-centeredness -- both bring obsession with the object in the mirror. Anyway, today's haiku is a reflection (pun intended!) of that idea.

each night the sun dies

each night the sun dies
cloud shrouded, interred to night
each morn born again