branch, vase, and water
How do you stay objective?
rooting pothos
inside the glass jar
water is replaced
…
the branch needs the vase
the vase needs the water
the water needs the branch
is all subjective
as our environments twist and turn
our obligations to each other
come from life lessons learned
post-it
How do you want others to see you?
polaroid film
expiring in august
bamboo curtains
…
before we display
our afternoon adventures
for all to see
around the globe
we should consider
if our actions today
mean anything for our future
stapler
What do you attach yourself to?
blue office stapler
joining the collection
of lost and found
…
attaching ourselves
to the days demands
is the arduous job
we wish to streamline
as each day comprises of
tasks and situations
we attempt to file and organize
ubiquitous
Why is knowledge in short supply?
newspaper stand
the wind flips pages
across the street
…
in this day and age
marketing our ideas
has never been
faster and easier
however, we seldomly seek
acquiring knowledge
for selling our projects
puzzle pieces
How do you solve problems?
melting chocolate
sliding onto the tray
for the final time
…
forming the boarder
sorting and grouping
assembling the center
each methodology
provides guidance
on solving the same problem
but we must decide where to start
candy machines
What do you impulse buy?
on-sale coupon
bubblegum wrappers
left on the rack
…
colorful capsules
limited edition toys
entice passersby
to impulse buy
may seem harmless
for the sake of self-gratification
until we make it a habit
take the stares
What impedes your growth?
…
our capacity for growth
is fraught with doubt
are we good enough
we can’t do that
why even try
fuels our desire to inspire
those who fear failure
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