dogma
What’s your dogma?
henoko bay
seagrass beds drift
by dugongs
…
every so often
we get caught up
living the principles
set by other people’s thoughts
unwilling to change
the status quo
before it’s too late
heartbeat
What makes your heart beat?
obon festival
taiko drums chant
under the willow tree
…
in most cases
nature and science
attempt to identify
the beats and rhythm
of what makes us human
before realizing how somethings
aren’t easily defined
bucket list
Do you prioritize?
lacquered bowl
noodles enter the
squid’s mouth
…
number one:
number two:
number three:
isn’t for prioritizing
short-term fantasies
but rather our realignment
in finding joy and inner peace
day in, day out
What gives you self-gratification?
silver maple leaf
falling into the river
summertime farewell
…
everybody wants to look good
on paper or in person
for opportunities
to show value
may just be a distraction
from the hard work
that we’re about
read the manual
What creates intuition?
paper lanterns
cast away from
the cat’s paw
…
seems like the natural next step
when assembling a new product
we’ve never built
that is until…
when our intuition
meets good design and behaviors
do instructions really matter?
must've been
Can you tell fact from fiction?
ripened plum pits
on the freezer door
children’s fingerprints
…
for ____ reasons
we can determine
if ____ happens
then ____ results
is often under the assumption
we are the rightful masters
in deducing fact from fiction
rollin' the red carpet
What are your cultural formalities?
open for business
bowing for guests
the bamboo sways
…
for address and greeting
people of high-esteem
speaks directly towards us
showing respect
and accommodation
yet, what happens
when we lose touch with formalities?
latent talent
Who do you serve?
spotlights shine
in an auditorium
full of dusty chairs
…
hidden potential
dormant power
whatever we call it
often tells us
to practice honing
our skills to perfection
for the benefit of others
tortoise
What have you grown to appreciate?
shopping street
patrons make way
for the tortoise
…
what’s the meaning
for walking this life
if we habitually
throw ourselves into
an endless spiral
without taking time
to cherish our shells
made in ____
Do you pay attention to tags and labels?
cotton kendogi
streaks of indigo
on my fingertips
…
check the tags
on the backs
of every single
piece of clothing
before we face
the mirror of
revolving tastes
hiroshima day
What impact are you leaving behind?
red oleanders
blooming above
scorched-earth
…
on this day…
76 years ago
over 129,000 lives were lost
from one atomic bomb
sends us a signal
to pass on history’s baton
with harmony for peace and progress
expiration date
Do expiration dates confuse you?
moldy potato
peeling the sprouts
reveals a new skin
…
rarely do phrases
such as “best by”
or “sell by”
contribute towards
a timely use of things
before needlessly wasting products
to only buy more of the same thing
traces
Are you a hero?
bear and the bees
traces of honey
on broken grass
…
even if we have
the tools to craft
and replicate art
with all of our hearts
our heroes will be one step ahead
until we sketch out
our own outlines
salt and pepper
What complements each other?
togarashi bits
falling off the edge
of my udon bowl
…
common ingredients
used in just about
all culinary dish
to preserve food
and enhance flavor
speak directly to our capacity
for companionship
proposition plastic
What impacts you?
at the beach
plastic bottle caps
bathe with shells
…
policies and procedures
that promote sustainability
and reduce non-essential waste
seem promising…
but, shouldn’t we
already be doing these things
to protect our planet?
matters of the cart
Where does your discipline come from?
spool of red thread
running stitch through
my happi coat
…
whomever said self-discipline
takes control and motivation
for staying on track
and doing what’s right
might’ve left out
how hard we must currently work
to check out and achieve our goals
thumbs up
How do you conquer your fears?
rugged staircase
waiting for the puppy
to step down
…
typically signals
our confirmation of approval
to the audience
before or after starting something
yet, most may not know
how far we will go
to conquer our fears
after we took out the trash
Are you aware of your surroundings?
quick, turn around!
a robin approaches
the garden window
…
did we recall…
if we put a new bag
inside the container
or did we forget?
asks us not on our ability
in completing a task
but our moment-to-moment-awareness
to: those days,
Do you have a favorite childhood memory?
three seconds pass
a new world appears
for the goldfish
…
we spent outside
our first day of school
receiving a gift
playing with friends
going on vacation
thanks for these childhood memories we call important
from: our not-too-distant future selves
lines, scribbles and squiggles
What’s your point?
valley opening
over the horizon
a dragonfly glides
…
lines show us a clear path
scribbles appear carelessly rash
while squiggles twist and turn
wasn’t the point to learn
instead, take time
to appreciate how each have
a beginning, middle, and end