nervously tapping
a smoker trying to smoke
starting or quiting?

-kaa


----------


sunset through the trees
blue sky fades slowly to grey
all things unstable

-jws

romantic and free
short, golden-white wind-blown locks
caterpillar hair

-kaa

all the trees and plants
wave lazily in a breeze~
time to go to work

-jws

----------

hours after we fought
my arm, like a firm pillow
lies beneath thoughts

-kaa

how is time perceived?
deep in muddy earthiness
cicadas return

-kaa

an "A" and a "C"
scrabble letters on the floor
thoughts of "Albert Carl"

-kaa

flashing points of light
silhouette of darkened trees
evening fireflies

-jws

in the yard at night
facing skyward in the rain~
suddenly lightning!

-jws

ocean of birdsong
from the rich green foliage~
no bird to be seen

-jws

white petaled carpet
row of blooming catalpas
route 511

-kaa

weeds in the driveway
pulling a few every day
they just multiply

-jws

my snail, marigold
sits near Monty, a turtle
two unlikely friends

-kaa

waterless oceans
an apocalyptic dream
i woke quite thirsty

-kaa

after the downpour
rain keeps dripping off the trees
fireflies in the yard

-jws

simple white flowers
grow in a semi-circle
round a sewer cap

-jws

we didn't speak much
she murmured her last meow
leaning on my beloved

-kaa

purple stingray bike
i place rhubarb in my mouth
pictures of childhood

-kaa

----------

stiff and spiky,
the green stalk mostly barren~
soft blue cornflower

-jws

son, at dad's bedside
(dying with the TV on)
says he hates sitcoms

-jws

after a rainfall
two worms squirm on the sidewalk
we each rescue one
walk on to the restaurant
and order vegie egg rolls

-kaa

that night, that moment
white living room curtain sways
flower petal drops

-kaa

plastic storage box
mildewed shoes from last summer
i try to shine them

-kaa


----------

an ache in my heart
worried and sick all day long
rain falls everywhere

-jws

cat food on the floor
dirty dishes in the sink
he sleeps on the couch

-kaa

after arguing
the two of us, with a look,
work on forgiveness

-kaa

green oak leaf, so young
falls from the tree and lies still
long life not promised

-jws

blue-pink sunset sky
breathe deeply the evening air
smell the pig manure

-jws

man taking a shit~
she enters without a word
lights incense and leaves

-jws

it's not a fire drill
gaze on the chaos of life
try to get some sleep

-kaa

huge mosaic leaves
kong coleus foliage
stands guard at the door

-kaa

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