anxious and angry
hate did not make me feel safe
and so it began
hundreds of prayer tie bundles
a silence entered my heart

-kaa

----------

sigh of forgiveness
weightlessness on the exhale
i hope he is well

-kaa

----------

tall yellow tulip
stands before serene Kuan Yin
petals palm to palm

-jws

thoughts of your cancer
staring in morning coffee
my eyes look back

-kaa

gentle rain falling
green world becoming greener
lush purple flowers

-jws

in an envelope
the moon and stars and glitter
with a kiss for you

-kaa

over the pansies
behind a night sky of clouds
a quarter moon drips

-kaa

this flowering night
endlessly the high winds gust
debris in the street

-kaa

awake in the night
fierce wind roars over the house
we snuggle closer

~jws

days of heavy rain
bare trees burst into flower
rooted in fresh mud

~jws

rain drips from the trees
bird song flows down from the sky
all the colors run

~jws

a boundless spring wind
moon swings like a pendulum
cradling slumber

-kaa

cold wind through bare trees
rippling pools of rain water
green grass bends in waves

~jws

circle gathering
their bodies, spokes of a wheel
ants around borax

-kaa

----------

man across the street
comes home to an empty house
same as yesterday

-jws

rain drips on the roof~
whistle of a chickadee
pierces the morning

-jws

starling in the grass
gathering twigs in its beak
just a morning's work

-kaa/jws

buried under leaves
dying snake on the sidewalk
shores of babylon

-kaa & jws

----------

death penetrates life
two sides of a holy snake
dangling from cat's mouth

-kaa

rusty wheelbarrow
full of dead leaves and dry sticks
warming in bright sun

-jws

dead leaves in the grass
pumpkin rotting in the yard
buds appear on trees

-jws

electronic spam
"Take only pleasure from sex!"
zombie network news

-kaa

----------

egg shells, orange rinds
compost rots in the garden
frogs sing by the creek

-jws

weeping in a dream
lying in bed, listening~
rain drums on the roof

-jws

no thought of the past
they bloom amidst fallen leaves~
purple crocuses

-jws

it's just textbook stuff
retreading the same pathway
burdensome response
in the midst of life, we breathe
in and out, all is okay

-kaa

----------

a day for dying
wind blows sunlight through my hair
ripples in water

~jws

wind blows without words
metal clasp on the flagpole
strikes the pole~ ding~ ding~

-jws

----------

migrating birds honk
dark clouds hang like a wet rug
slouching daffodils

-kaa

zazen all morning
thought bubbles appear and burst
breathe and face the wall

~jws

----------

dragon-filled waters
rawness comes without warning
morning of zazen

-kaa

bearded homeless man
magically enthralled with Bach
everything was there

-kaa

letting go, a bit
of a disparaging heart
with ginger peach tea

-kaa

snow falling lightly
trailing hem of winter's dress
bird shit on the deck

-jws, kaa, and das (who provided laughter)

----------

dead leaves in dry grass
frost-covered, early morning
rising sun sparkles

-jws

she eats alone now
oblique references to him
her voice trailing off

-kaa

cardinal's sweet whistle
wind turns leaves end over end
cat slips past, silent

~jws

----------

sunrise at the beach
feeding the gulls dry, stale bread
happy birthday dad

-kaa

walking in the mist
pools of water in the road
yellow fire hydrant

-jws

dry throat croaks, "hello"
elevator doors open
PICU floor, wet eyes

-kaa

I.V. pole of tubes
hand on his bandaged belly
small hand holds my thumb

-kaa

full moon in the sky
bare trees reach up silently
peepers sing with joy

-jws

eating cheerios
everything was okay
and then it wasn't

-kaa

----------

flowers grow taller
warm wind blows fresh sunny air~
dead leaves scattering

~jws

breathing evenly
short, deep moans as dawn approached
what were you dreaming?

-kaa

many-colored cars
strewn across the parking lot~
pebbles in the sand

-jws

touching your forehead
i pause to celebrate us
the feel of your cheek

-kaa


----------

wedding remembered
two geese fly over the house
we begin again

-jws

flowers appearing
as snow falls wet and heavy~
vultures overhead

-jws

----------

anniversary
tomorrow, twenty-three years
today, lamp shopping

-kaa

flowers start to show
water runs along the road
birds sing in the mist

-jws

----------

winter frustration
snow on its way, yet again
daffodil greens peek

kaa

hair on her pillow
handfuls, chemotherapy
a flight for freedom

-kaa


----------

trash man in the rain
loading his truck with one hand~
his red umbrella

-jws

breathing gentle air
walking past the sewer drain
rain water gurgles

-jws

cracked lips showing fear
baby boy needs surgery
her eyes become wet

-kaa

snow-covered hilltop
fades to a grassy green slope~
red sled stands, idle

-jws

----------

glowing and dimming
there was a dream of a fire
old, burnt house ruptured

-kaa

gentle morning rain
patches of snow here and there
crows call from the sky

-jws

----------

listen through silence
red lips, missing an eye tooth
lighthouse keeper speaks

-kaa

sauteing onions
charlie parker and miles davis
peaceful evening

-kaa

bare trees pierce the sky
snow melts, revealing wet grass
the world heaves and sighs

-jws

she stares vacantly
deep sigh after a long day
oberlin high school

-kaa

----------

clear sky before dawn
crescent moon and morning star
bird song all around

-jws

rain falls and snow melts
creeks become swollen rivers~
sorrows of the world

-jws

----------

it's a life, his life
the lighthouse keeper holds him
nurtures his sad heart

-kaa

well-worn path of tracks
frozen footprints in the snow
compost pile for lunch

-kaa

somehow time seems still
recalling that denim bag
your photo stares back

-kaa

angsty stomach pain
snowflakes settle like night fall
waiting for your call

-kaa

grateful for this day
ordinary suffering
nothing exotic

-jws

light of the sun's fire
shines on ice in the tree tops~
rainbow shimmerings

-jws

creaking in the wind
delicately-coated tree
branches sheathed in ice

-jws

wakeful dream
ABCs fall from the sky
odd intensity

-kaa

momentary glance
marigold-hued clementine
juice drips from his lips

-kaa

chocolate and sprinkles
cupcakes for her friend's birthday
ramekin of joy

-kaa

warm wind blows dry leaves
sun shines on the swollen creek~
world released from snow

-jws

three straight days of warmth~
the glacier in the front yard
begins to recede

-jws

teaspoon on the floor
reflecting the kitchen lights~
shining like the stars

-jws

----------

cloud cover like lace
february's snowy moon
the self of all selves

-kaa

at parking lot's edge,
here in Ohio's flat land~
mountains of grey snow

-jws

----------

front window at dusk
candle flame gently flickers
dog squats in the snow

-kaa

so tired at day's end~
finding rejuvenation
taking out the trash

~jws

----------

waiting at the light
feeling your hold without touch
honking grows louder

-kaa

nondescript movement
shadows flash at the window
thoughts, sight, or both?

-kaa

patches of blue sky
mild air melts the snow below
clouds melt overhead

-jws

curled up, feeling cold
your side of the bed: empty
thinking about you

-jws

air so cold it stabs
like the icicles which hang
daggers from the roof

-jws

shadow of the trees
on the walk, and the brick wall~
proof there is a sun!

-jws

the air became still
nothing left but his fragrance
our gentle embrace

-kaa

shovel in the snow
at the end of the driveway~
waiting for a job

-jws

----------

dog licking his foot
i watch him quite closely and
wait for a poem

-kaa

woke with contacts in
fuzzy, rainbow-crested world
gift of the mistake

-kaa

-----------

hushed and soft and still~
all the edges of the world
rounded off by snow

-jws

going nowhere fast
buried under snow and ice~
the red plastic sled

-jws

this frigid morning
ice crystals on the car roof
like small white feathers

-jws

----------

police blotter reads
"hungry ghost abducts a man"
both caught shoplifting

-kaa

after the snow storm
melting ice runs like warm tears
in the mild sunshine

-jws

----------

poor, tired, angry
eyes of the disenfranchised
facebook and twitter

-kaa

olive green fleece cap
frames his small cherublike cheeks
bright red snow cherries

-kaa

belted red trench coat
snuggly tucked around her waist
wating for spring rain

-kaa

----------

stars, like shards of ice
frozen, hard, and glittering~
such distant fire

-jws

bundled in winter
separated at the stem
daisies in a vase

-kaa

----------

small birds have been here~
on the surface of the snow
their little footprints

-jws

white snow white sky white
snow white sky brown trees white sky
white snow white sky white

-jws (with das)

----------

water ice water
beautiful simplicity
dripping icicles

-kaa

black cat with arched back~
silhouette in the window
against snow-white world

-jws

----------

i glance longingly
end of its usable life
laptop battery

-kaa

bathroom is littered:
advil, nyquil, sudafed...
debris from a cold

-jws

footsteps crunch loudly
the world made quiet by snow
breathing ice-cold air

-jws

girl in the doorway
she turns towards the warm bright room
behind her, snow swirls

-jws

----------

sunflower night light
pretending to be the sun
under a full moon

-kaa

smell of your t-shirts
we used to breathe together
and you liked ice cream

-kaa


----------

Super 8 Motel
just $35.99~
bright sign, cold dark night

-jws

snow falls in fine flakes
flock of birds calls from the trees~
bunch of cold robins!

~jws

----------

i told her secrets
my snow woman named Lulu
one day she melted

-kaa

between the houses
in this simple neighborhood
deer tracks in the snow

-jws

----------

love comes from within -
ya think so? chips with flaxseed
i smile at my lunch

-kaa

blue swimming pool floor
in the distance, bright-eyed bird
up close, gray fungus

-kaa


----------

napping in the car
kept warm by a brown blanket
raindrops on the roof

-jws

under ice and snow
are the roots of trees nestled
in the moist warm earth?

-jws

in the mornin' sun
cardboard pops from the toaster
gluten-free waffles

-kaa


----------

mournful train whistle~
shadow of the prayer flags
fluttering on snow

-jws

the homeward journey
sits under the Bodhi tree
bird poop on his head

-kaa


----------

motionless grey sky
snowy fields and leafless trees~
flowing stream of cars

-jws

white paper airplane
a catawampus landing
library table

-kaa


----------

snow falling slowly
lazy flakes drifting sideways
riding on a breeze

-jws

he's speed dial 2
and says she's speed dial 3
modern-day romance

-kaa


----------

small brown mouse freezes
on the surface of the snow~
racing to the shed

-jws

night-time parking lot~
snow swirling in a blue light
around the street lamp

-jws

an inch deep in snow
it waits patiently for spring~
frozen bicycle

-jws

quiet house at dawn
except for sounds of breathing
gaggle of teen girls

-kaa

----------

peeling an orange
dark sky shifts slowly towards light
steaming coffee cup

-jws

blue fractal patterns
a snowflake-crystalled window
ice flakes conceal dusk

-kaa


----------

new snow on the trees
new trees underneath the snow~
all things just born now

-jws

"when you lose your spouse,
all you have is God," she said,
"and television."

-jws

forty-eight year old
coffee cup, watches the snow
her mom drank sweet tea

-kaa


----------

sitting quietly
looking at a dresser drawer~
lines in the wood grain

-jws

car in the distance
leaves skittering on the road
now and then, a bird

-jws

----------

she spoke of her day
of scary white kids who cut
pierced tongues sharing pain

-kaa

stars in the night sky
sparkling, crystal clear, and cold
endless web of light

-jws

you’ve made me someone
who won’t sentence you to death
karma is your snitch

-kaa

pumpkin in the yard,
Christmas tree in the window~
holiday build-up

-jws

----------

lost in sleepy dreams
bubbles of thought keep bursting
leaving only this

-jws

tinsel, confetti
washing lip-stained champagne flutes
recalling each guest

-kaa

----------

the cold was bitter
on the day my father died~
now, warm memories

-jws