Death

a mournful windsong
whispering past long dead oaks-
the forest’s lament

graveside rain-
one last leaf
taken by the wind

Smoke

coupling freight cars-
clouds of smoke darken the air
throughout the rail yard

startled crows-
smoke and coal ash
fill the sky

Zen

perfectly flat stones
skipping on a gentle arc
across the water

a quiet splash-
willow branches
touch the water

Impermanence

on this lonesome road
my only legacy the
footprints in the dust

empty shells-
ocean waves
wash the shore

Desert

ghosts walk the streets of
an abandoned mining town
out of the shadows

desert shade-
sand dancing
across the road

Translucent

anger in the air
reflections in the window
barely ghosts of us

cat tails-
the calm surface
minnows just below

Arc

the early morning sun
walks amid the wet grass and
turns the dew to gold

twilight-
memories of dreams
most elusive

Transition

near enough to see
daylight fading to the point
where the rain begins

tending the garden-
raindrops warm
on my neck

Remembrance

in a dusty tin
a collection of the days
that lead me to you

withered leaves-
the memories of
an old diary

History

continuity-
ancient traditions upheld
for generations

lichens on stone-
the huron pine
adds another ring