people say they know me – knew me
a poor man – crazy man:
Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!
Old and battered but breathing
the subtle things;
but now they say they don’t – didn’t
unable to rely on appearances – experiences
the sickness is illusion
and it is fortunate to meet
with men wise to the Tao
Haiku-heights theme: desert
long my shadow falls
across your sheer faces –
the low angled sun
.
a fine thread sewn
into the curved hips of dunes
footsteps in the sand
.
each grain of rice climbs
the arcuate dune lifting
ripple by ripple
.
yearning for water
winds dry the salt on my skin
a deceitful kiss
.
the sky shimmers
seven colours play
with promise
.
sand grains jump
excitedly
emulating rain
.
just a shower
of heavenly light – all else
evaporates
Haiku-heights theme: tree
have you no shame –
flamboyant decoration
simply brazen
.
the keys coloured sun
conspicuous in your guilt
even grass blushes
.
in supplication
blood soaked palms raised skywards
penitent
.
fly, wing-ed forms, fly
the gentle rustle – oh listen!
the snake barks
Haiku-heights theme: silence
escaping battle
no flight from one’s own soul –
the visions in one’s eye
.
running blindly
chased by a mind-screaming
staggering horror
.
sitting in silence
intangible the veil
one thousand yard stare
.
.
from the distant sun
a rash of bursting spots
each wave breaking ashore
brings one thousand storms
upon ten thousand seas
.
see crazy chaos
in a seismograph’s scratches
randomly flicking
backwards and forwards –
such poor decision making
.
footprints of the wind
each grain removed
left empty – oh
a precarious balance
in the swing of a pendulum
.
Haiku-heights theme: nature
unavoidably
my true nature – leopard’s spots
run through like rock
.
the world a void
rotating in space – ether
a void the world
.
I stand before you
blow away the dust – mirror
what do you see now?!
.
