36 Link Kasen Renga Modern Era Summer swimming hole He stares at fish eyes With sharp pointy fins Oozing and bleeding in June She cleans and wraps a bandage With the summer wind Changing passion's heat to warmth Lust is quelled to pain Pale moon dismisses daylight And darkness becomes alive Thick leaves hide the moon Gunmetal gray wheels circle Door knobs shake- we're sleep The moon glares from above--locked A cat and bird- eyes open Glowing in the night Preying to a well known need As dogs howl skyward A stranger is near- hunter All life listens to footsteps The tiny buds grew Blossoms in grave yards Each a million tears A box of Kleenex—a sponge A large bucket of money Bright green leaves covered The basement window below Some abandoned empty houses Above the moon lights sharp teeth Two dogs fight over hambones She waits for the sun Eyes closed—he is not asleep He listens and waits Unable to close her eyes She finds her mirror—to see Eyes, ears, nose, mouth-mind Shadows enjoy the moon's lure She a shadow-hardly Crackling sounds; bullets hail fire The sounds of guns—a dog growls Red spots in a shirt Scarlet holes—a leaking man To push up daisies In the graveyard's million tears Tree branches extend skyward On calloused knees- prey! Misty, dewy, black mourning Pregnant with grief- forgive! A raindrop in the mid-air Warms when touched by human hands He touches her hair Sleepy eyes close finally Safeness, nearness, peace Foam capped waves cradle the heart Silent light bathes the windows The sounds of trickle As water drops from the tap Heavy deep breath emerges Autumn rain softens the air Stalks of corn need harvesting The rains of autumn-- Saturated clouds squeezed dry And then the sun shines Red-orange leaves fall then swirl Car spattered road-kill . . . ate it Misty wind cold face She shakes water from her hood Fall invites winter A wedge of geese flying south Watched in the harvest moonlight The trees are bare to all in sight She reaches for extra clothes                                                 As winter winds hissing Warm ale and hot soup thaw bones A restless lake-guarded Ice covered walks are salted Roads are not for the homeless                                                 Fireplace's warm glow Grace and thanks for peace of mind Scenes from Currier and Ives A winter storm brews The frostbitten hands and feet Need warm shoes and gloves Cherry blossoms-tomorrow Snuggling close together-now She and he gaze at The new moon a sliver shows Tomorrow exists!