going directly
to the chair, stepping around
dead mouse on the floor

-kaa

----------

yellow sun rising
all the grass is green and gold~
dead worms on sidewalk

-jws

neighbor's lights are on
TV screen brightens the room
man reading a book

-kaa

----------

raccoons came last night~
crumpled Dunkin Donuts box
stuck in sewer grate

-jws

opening the door
an unexpected challenge
key is upside down

-kaa

broken flower pot
most startled rosemary plant
amidst dirt and clay

-kaa

peaceful gardening~
mother spider with her egg
running for safety

-jws

----------

turning muddy soil
dandeloins and quackgrass
weeds in the clear state

-kaa

saturday morning
awareness slowly returns
sunlight through the blinds

-jws

lying on cold tile
pulsating heavy breathing
old cat in pawspice

-kaa

two empty white chairs
overlooking the back yard~
rain drips rhythmically

-kaa

backyard veggie plot
neighbor planted orange flowers~
cohabitation

-kaa

slowly back and forth
sitting on the windy porch~
empty rocking chair

-jws

wind stirs grass and trees
flagpole rings incessantly
sunlight comes and goes

-jws

this generation
already passing away~
white dandelions

-jws

heart-shaped, newly-born
leaves of the cottonwood tree
shimmer in the wind

-jws

back alley pavement
buzzing soul through his trumpet
three frightened pigeons

-kaa

----------

watching the grey sky
thunder rumbles; no rain yet~
get home, soaking wet

-jws

is this my last time
am i that kind of grateful?
holding soapy sponge
somehow i doubt it's the last
lasagna stuck to the plate


OR

what if it's my last
mindfully washing dishes
holding soapy sponge
am i that kind of grateful?
lasagna stuck to the plate

-kaa

----------

grey sky drops the rain
cherry tree drops pink blossoms
dandelions rise

-jws

frog peeps from creek bed
silhouette of green leaf buds
spring is whispering

-kaa

marigold, my snail
seems to end her day simply
no fuss or flurry

-kaa

visitors gather
rest stop in Indiana
snake-handling preacher

-kaa

cat in the doorway
watching raindrops hit the porch
as for the first time

-jws

----------

simple yellow hat
left at a roadside cafe
cake crumbs on the floor

-jws/kaa

alone in the wild
ant on a dandelion
discovering gold

-jws

----------

child-like excitement
new brown leather mary janes
blister on my heel

-kaa

a slumbering wake
rumbles of morning thunder
nature's alarm clock

-kaa

frogs down by the creek
trill in their high-pitched voices~
purring of the woods

-jws

when your blossom falls
may i sit with your moonlight
friend at the pond's edge

-kaa

... but before you go
paths that cross will cross again
i will watch for you

-kaa

morning full of mist
lacy trees stand quietly
orange sun rises

-jws

on a chilly day
where does the firefly light go
a storage unit?

-kaa

all the tunes at once
(an orchestra warming up?)
birds sing over birds

-jws

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