moss and stone
Do you conquer or coexist with nature?
year after year
sitting on the ground
of the moss temple
…
is the purpose
of our existence
to conquer everything
in our path
or to coexist with
the natural world
as a polite guest?
save the ___
Whose history are you preserving?
hummingbird flight
no flowers in sight
no food for me
…
may grab attention
in the short-term
but what really
makes a difference
is communicating
the long-term impact
of our actions
tick-tock tick-tock
When did you wake up today?
morning sonata
a grasshopper chirps
a lawn mower mows
…
while some may find
it an inconvenience
to turn off our alarms clocks
and go back to sleep
we should appreciate
the fact that
we woke up today
weighing out
When do you use pros and cons lists?
food scale
rusted metal plates
holding ripe bananas
…
an important decision
with pros and cons
may seem helpful
at a high-level
but frequently takes
our cognitive bias
into consideration
name-dropping
What keeps you humble?
old cherry tree
barely holding back
a red balloon
…
as a means
to specifically impress
our peers or audience
does more damage
by inflating our egos
with pride and arrogance
instead of humbleness
reverse reverse
What can you do about aging?
grandfather clock
the lunar moon passes
the fifteenth day
…
when the most valuable
things we have in life
are our health and happiness
why do we make things
so difficult for ourselves
to cause stress instead
of being blessed?
the glades
What calms your mind?
chittering squirrels
the remains of macadamias
left on a rock
…
we stumble upon
as we wonder
in and out of
a foreboding forest
gives us pause
from our fear and anxieties
to stop, look, and listen
square to cube
How are you becoming multifaceted?
a flick of the wrist
dice ricochet across
emerald green baize
…
the transition
from 2d to 3d
seems daunting
and unnecessary for those
who crave consistency
before they realize
we are always changing
pawns, knights, and kings
Who are you protecting and fostering?
a shogi board
pentagons scattered
across the field
…
being judged solely by
our status and affiliation
in the community
is like people peering through
an unopened door’s keyhole
to only find and see
what’s in front of them
season one
What is your favorite season?
sakura petals
settling on top of
my picnic basket
…
marks the beginning
of blooming flowers
even after hours
for these sunsets
won’t let us forget
what we bring
into spring
hoodies and shoe strings
What habits have you learned from others?
concrete genkan
a pair of dr. martins
greets warm socks
…
learning how to
zip up our coats
or tie our shoelaces
into a perfect bow
is an art and practice
we get from constant
repetition and immersion
a cupcake now
How do you exercise self-control?
baking cupcakes
the girl stares at
flowering tulips
…
or eat two later
will always pit us
in choosing between
a shorter-smaller reward
against a longer-larger one
to test our ability and desire
to exercise self-control