Thoughts in Bonsai: Eighty-Four

1. In every drop of rain
a different new moon.

2. Sunrise on the river...
boat by boat
the lamps go out, one by one.

3. Little by little
night falls away...
the whole house awakens
waiting for a birth.

4. Roses still bloom today,
despite our distance.

5. Spring arrives
and drinks up
all the rage of winter's
dried leaves.

6. Exalted time—
flocks of sparrows
merge with the evening moon.

7. In night's glow
on the mountain peak
stars fall away.

8. By the lake's edge
wind's
wrinkled form.

9. Festival.
Street children
set off fireworks
in their bellies and eyes.

10. Seeing autumn's breeze,
grandmother too
adjusts her wig properly.

11. Spring,
going to heal
someone's joys,
forgets and brings sorrow.

12. On monsoon nights
hidden from all
the secret union
of sea and river.

13. The shy moon's
eyes downcast
at night's touch.

14. On every leaf's edge
the moon's silence
drawn.

15. In the leaf's stolen essence
winter's fierce exultation.

16. In war's belly—
tears
of sealed letters.

17. In rain's shadows upon shadows
the spring moon's
heartbeat.

18. In soundlessness's whisper
the end
of the butterfly's cool desire.

19. Buried deep
in silence
love's chastity.

20. Along the ocean's shore
awakens
childhood's transparent sunset.