culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

seems to us

Are you competing or collaborating?

the welding machine

a red spot dissipating

a car door appears

that the competition

is meant for picking

the best out of the best

when in reality

we are all collaborating

on this opportunity

to building something real

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

what comes first

What do you prioritize first?

garden pagoda

half covered over with moss

half covered by sun

on a project

is often the most important

piece or variable

we need to determine

as the other jobs

roles, and activities

should follow it’s vision

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

no complaints

What feedback are you getting?

garden hose tightens

around the rear window glass

searching for soap suds

is a compliment

or is it

a missed opportunity

for us to hear

what could be fixed

what would be better

what should be best?

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culture, creativity, community Tomosumi culture, creativity, community Tomosumi

braided

What requires your feelings and finesse?

cascading down

cotton weaves in and out of

an old waterfall

on one end

we hold material

that is vital

for our project

on the other

we leave up to our skill

and imagination

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

allow us

What matters to you?

vanishing embers

once a radiant fire

flees into the sky

to show what

we have learned

along our way

to finding what

really matters most

in order for others

to do the same

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

rain or shine

What are you in control of?

pulling the curtain

a flower garden party

welcomes the neighbors

birds will sing

bees will sting

it doesn’t matter if

the weather may

set the tone

we control and define

our environments

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

we are starting

Are your wants truly needs?

ruby pick-up truck

emerges from the car wash

with tree sap on hood

to learn that

“we want it”

is not a signal

to buy things

even if in the moment

they appear as

an absolute need

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

ouroboros

What never-ending cycle are you in?

passing evergreens

miles after miles run

the lake sits in place

for us to perceive

winning today

as having won the journey

is all but an illusion

we need to recognize

that this is all but one

eternal cycle

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

expired

When was the last time you ate expired food?

moldy goat cheese

a fly touches down on

new territory

we have all

been in the situation

when we check the date

on a food item

or package

because something smelled

or looked off

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

so much of

What is written and said about you?

early morning jog

a buck and doe leap over

historic roses

the narrative

that is written

and spoken about us

draws from individuals

and organizations

that simply need

something to talk about

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

as we try

Do you have a favorite familial vintage piece?

golden stitching knots

wrapped around the mantelpiece

ignites a new flame

on a vintage

piece of clothing

that they once wore

and cherished

we realize how warm

and calming

our loved ones were

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

pieces of us

What do you save or shred?

laminated ad

shining across the banner

a brand new vacuum

there will come

a time when

we are left

with considering

if we should save

our paperwork

or put it in the shredder

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culture, community, creativity Tomosumi culture, community, creativity Tomosumi

concentric

What did your teachers teach you?

golden afternoon

folding origami cranes

opening new eyes

as students

we look up to

our teachers

learning the basics

and principles to follow

only until we reach

the point of transcendence

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

wish us well

Who do you wish well?

at the crack of dawn

a departing moving truck

waves goodbye for now

we should appreciate it

we would celebrate it

we could need it

we take it for granted

before things get slanted

are these the words

other’s expect to hear from us?

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

try again

Why do you fail?

shuffling cards

a pair of sixes made of

hearts and diamonds

and fail

is better than

us doing nothing

as we are geared

to grow from our mistakes

instead of worrying about

winning or losing

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

submerging

What is on your mind?

penguin arrival

a raft of black and white cuts

the water’s surface

ourselves in shallow

thoughts and opinions

doesn’t turn them

into deeper pools

of reflections

but rather sees us

wading for nothing

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

drawn

What are you tempted by?

lantern festival

suddenly the moths return

on a full moon eve

just as moths

are attracted

to bright lights

or an open flame

are we seen as

risk takers or fools

for our temptations?

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

interesting

What surprised you today?

springtime migration

blue jays bathing underneath

the last holly tree

while red and green

are vibrant colors

by themselves

if we mix them together

we may be left surprised

and underwhelmed

that we get brown

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

love is love

Who do you love?

the matrimony

a champagne toast awaiting

a certain speaker

if we call it

any other name

would that take away

change the meaning

or lessen the value

behind these four letters

we use on the daily?

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culture, community Tomosumi culture, community Tomosumi

in common

When do you need more context?

brown bear sighs

rubbing it’s back

against the tree

bat

bow

ring

wind

letter

nail

rose

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