Sabi

1

the royal guard
standing by the gate
no contact

2

silence
white walls
my thoughts

3

the small girl
has a tea party
with an empty chair

4

oak tree
the perfect place
just for me

5

she sits atop the hill
staring at her love
the moon

6

we both have windows
but when I look
no one is there

7

darkness
breath in and out
faint scent of lavender

8

parents calling again
i guess I forgot
to pick up

9

the lone star
illuminates the sky
just like you

10

lying in bed
i hug my blanket
a little tighter

11

a shimmering droplet 
plops into the lake 
silence follows

12

truck drivers
on packed roads
yet always alone

Wabi

13

hands plunk
the piano
a key       doesn't work

14

if i hold the
aux cord      just right
it works

15

guitar collecting dust
in the corner
I don’t know how to play

16

popped kickball
sitting on the roof
what was its story?

17

1980 Spider-Man
black and white suit
still valuable

18

a ticket stub
discovered in an old wallet
my first PG-13 movie

19

the sweater passed down
has many holes
that tell a story

20

that pink bed
with the polka dot sheets
grandma’s house

21

as the beads fall off
my dad still wears it
just for me

22

pink and gold necklace
a gift from
Grandmother

23

cigarette butt on the porch—
that one night
we shared a kiss

24

a boy cries  
his finger poking 
out of his pocket

Karumi

25

Good morning love
what a way
to start the day

26

wishing star 
dream comes true . . .
my shift is covered

27

gust of wind
blows away
all of my problems

28

as I approach the door
dogs bark
I hear the love

29

hot shower
shaved legs
silk sheets

30

clock strikes midnight
one more day
with you

31

sparkles swirling 
a little girl 
runs in circles 

32

All of my friends
asleep on the car ride home.
I will protect them.

33

shhh 
don’t make a sound 
everyone is still sleeping

Kuro

34

a family dog 
lays beside
the roadkill

35

after grandpa died
he began to clean
the guest room

36

I hold my breath
underwater
who will rescue me?

37

a park ranger 
warns the hikers—
the bears are hangry 

38

their childhood
treading
on rocky waters

39

16
new car
inevitable accident

40

I find a stray
my home is his home
            vet bills

41

cap and gown
I wonder
what the world has in store for me

42

hiding from prying eyes
the fiddler crab
digs deeper in the mud

Mido

43

tiny paw prints
from kittens outside
my window

44

boom, bang, clang, crash
noise to you
music to me

45

maple syrup dripping
over waffles
shared with a friend

46

crowd buzzing
I bump through
to find a friend

47

water filled vase
the curious curious cat
CRASH!

48

writing away
hoping my sadness 
goes with it

49

after mass 
powder sugar 
covers my face 

50

a pair of white shoes
by the door
as if they were still walking

51

I order something new
a mistake?
my new usual