Kafkaesque

awake at first light
realizing far too late
I’m not who I thought

venus rising-
difficult memories
consigned to the fire

Potential

gilded double doors
open with empty promises
of false salvation

heavy leaden sky-
swollen riverbanks
poised to overflow

Water

tumbling down hill
chatting and laughing aloud
running to the sea

freshly frozen-
on the lake shore
crackled glass

Blank

staring deep into
an empty sheet of paper
conjuring the muse

winter’s canvas-
a palette of pine
and fresh snow

Promise

a new day dawning
stale vestiges of the past
left by the roadside

first light-
the morning star
through hollow trees

Humid

grey curls of wet smoke-
the kiss of embers linger
on her ruby lips

midnight sweat-
a lazy ceiling fan
stirs the air

Beginning

chasing the sunset
just over the horizon
ever out of reach

hoary grass-
the sky aglow in
morning twilight

Rising

by the temple gates
burning incense left as a
simple offering

hot springs-
steam rising from
the snow monkeys

Passing

death comes unbidden-
a brief pause before leaving
to collect his due

icicles-
melting in
the winer sun

Lune

visiting the well
my wooden bucket dipping
deep in the moonlight

alongside the lake-
the harvest moon
follows me home