Thoughts in Bonsai: Eighty-Three

1. A small coffin.
Winter's long
farewell.

2. Hailstorm!
The clouds' day
of turning gray.

3. Ice crystallizes.
Water's dreams
slowly evaporate.

4. A car emerges from the garage.
Clouds gather on the serpent's hood.

5. Suddenly in the spring—
a shopping bag...
filled with dried leaves.

6. Twilight gradually
traps dust
against the lamppost.

7. A spark
falls to earth;
then...all darkness.

8. Climbing the stairs,
stopping halfway
and looking down—
terror strikes.

9. In scorching sun
an empty room
hollow bone-piles.

10. A gecko
walks in rhythm
with the shadow of stone.

11. Even seeing the peacock's cry
seems colorful.

Even hearing the crow's silence
seems deafening.

12. Emptiness,
where a pair of eyes
descends...into the hut.

13. Give attention—
think yourself weak.
Get attention—
think yourself strong.

14. Wind from the sea comes
and lives captive
in the violin's bow after bow.

15. Under sun upon sun
tar burns
on wing after wing of crows.

16. In sound upon sound of waves
the kiss of rain's sound.

17. The pig and I,
I and you,
you and the pig—
when evening falls, all the same.

18. In the new moon—
some sweat-stains
of departed smoke.

19. The river's calm, cool lips
await an intimate kiss.

20. At the shepherd's call
the herd of cattle
ignores twilight itself!