hōseki-bako
What stories are sealed in your jewelry box?
black-billed magpie
soaring high above
barbed wire fences
…
grandmother’s jewelry box
holds money and gold
but nothing compares
to the history and memories
sealed within wooden
carved bird pins
from Tule Lake, California
friends of friends
How do you foster new relationships?
business cards
rest on the table
between coasters
…
the root of
mutual acquaintances
lies deeper than
knowing the same people
places and things
it grows and branches out
into new directions if we let it
dawn and dusk
When does inspiration strike you?
rice paper screens
the camellia’s shadow
waves to the moon
…
when some people
wind down for the evening
others begin working
with the intention to make
the most out of their day
with or without the presence
of the sun
usagi ringo
What brightens up your day?
a pink lady
turns into eight sweet
reddish rabbits
…
if we spend
a few minutes
cutting the pieces
in a decorative manner
we may just brighten up
an otherwise cloudy afternoon
with a simple apple snack
key change
What song do you know by heart?
cassette player
tangled earbuds
left on the dashboard
…
hearing familiar favorites
on the radio
gives us the advantage
of knowing when
the song reaches
it’s eventual climax
before returning home
scratch my back
How do you form partnerships?
the air is clear
above white feathers
and low sweeping horns
…
the water buffalo
let’s the cattle egret
perch on it’s back
so they can eat
harmful fleas and ticks
and alert their host
of impeding danger
business cards
Do you carry one?
red bells
ring silently
from my pocket
…
long gone
are the days
when we solely relied
on a piece of paper
to hold relevant
personal and professional
content and information
the prophecy
How do you manage expectations?
empty neighborhood
the cat roams about
staring at the moon
…
even if the outcome
of any emerging event
provides negative results
how we view and decide
our beliefs and actions
may bring positive perspectives
into the future