i leaves
crumbling to dust upon the wind
as dusk
moves across the canyon
night's stars fill the sky.

i crumble
leaves to dust upon the wind
dusk
moves slowly across the canyon
bringing night's stars into view.

Long ago, a young man arrived in Japan in the evening, and the next day went to the company that had hired him, to report for work. There, as he was meeting his new bosses, a young woman walked out of a meeting room. She was talking with friends, and walked on by, but there was something elegant about her which lingered in his mind. That night, after he had moved his things into his new apartment, he looked out the window at the moon, and thought of her.


Fawnlike
you walked by, eyes glistening,
sparkling
laughter filled the room with joy--
your spirit pierced my heart.


Moonlight
comfort me in this loneliness.
entranced, I see her
dance in the shadows of my room
as you shine through the clouds.




(with thanks to the Tales of Ise)

saw you briefly
as though a white heron
flying overhead
with grace, beauty, and love,
approached, passed on, and was gone.

in a drained lake
the land parched, the grasses died,
a lone blue heron
searches in the midday heat
for at least one bite of food.

if my touch brings
the glow of dawn into your eyes
then let this kiss
be as the sun, so that its rays
will fill your soul with love.

O mystery,
you have me in deep vortex
swirling again--
refractions of her smile
shatter my equilibrium.


dawn, old friend,
you came to be with me,
finally,
as i lay waiting for her
to come, at least, in dreams.

sleepless again
in the greyless predawn
of the bedroom--
slowly my eyes adjust
to the silence without you.

your eyes
shine in the sunrise--
tiger lilies
enhance your smile of love--
oh joyous gift of dew.

Soft nights
breezes whisper as they approach
then explore
the contours of my body--
I dream of your lips, your touch.