to the times

empty plastic bag

rustles and takes the shape of

a hot air balloon

…

we feel lazy

and don’t think

we have enough energy

to make our beds

just remember

whatever we don’t do today

carries over to tomorrow

on hold

patiently waiting

at the ferry terminal

seagulls flock to us

…

service takes time as

the telephone music

continues playing

until we hear

an automated voice

recording telling us

if we wish to wait or leave

business card

aged rhododendron

a bee flies underneath

a green dress

…

is meant for us

to introduce ourselves

to others in a quick way

but much of our introduction

is happening well before

we even hand them

this piece of paper

history

garden stone trail

a thousand steps reveal

a mossy tea house

…

is our guide

to innovate on ideas

to create change

to imagine something new

to move the needle

to where we want

to see our world

decisions decisions

ripe watermelon

flowing down the river stream

into our stomachs

…

we all make them

now whether or not

they are actually

a good or bad one

will be up to time

but at least we got

to have a choice

the floor

embers fall

the maple tree

waves goodbye

…

we stand on

is the foundation

for us to imagine

for us to reflect

for us to create

for us to realize

that anything is possible

windup

endlessly ticking

crickets escaping into

the middle of night

…

takes concentration

and focus on placing

the object to where we

want it to be

even before we actually

place our hands

and fingers on it

dare to dream

afternoon sunshine

a scaling pathos reaches

for the veranda

…

the truth is

no matter how much

time has passed or if we are stopped

in our tracks for reasons

out of our control

we will always be dreamers

exploring our thoughts and the world

shopping bag

rustling and crinkling

opening the paper box

a gold-covered bell

…

what we decide

to put into

our shopping bags

is entirely up to us

but then again

we need to consider

who else is it for?

sweeping

the boy gathers up

a collection of cut grass

from the entryway

…

the dirt and leaves

that cover our doormats

or cement driveways

seems like a dull task

and that’s not wrong

but it does pay off

in the long run

soap and water

muddy pawprints

from the neighborhood shepherd

searching for the herd

…

in an age

where we have

made tremendous

advancements across

technology and society

we still find ourselves

washing our hands

committed

open gallery

oil paintings decorate

a wall of flowers

…

instead of chasing after

the likes, comments, trends

of mass media

we should learn to fall in love

with patience and practice

for finding our own style

to share with the world

passages

ussuri brown bear

underneath the crescent moon

tribal festival

…

the portals we enter

as we transition

from one point

of our life to the next

will serve us well

if we are willing to

accept change and let go

there is a time

hiking the mountain

we left behind our backpack

we found our spirit

…

when we have to stop

when we have to look

when we have to listen

when we have to think

when we have to reflect

when we have to plan

before we can go

a mic stand

orange containers

a wisping trail of steam

a sautéed carrot

…

needs a microphone

but a microphone

doesn’t necessarily

need a mic stand

in order for us

to continue and perform

our activities

one step

ups driver

delivers cardboard boxes

delivers treasure

…

ahead from yesterday

but two steps

behind tomorrow

doesn’t change the fact

we have today to make

and experience things

no matter where we are

play the game

open plain field

sitting in the thick of it

a pair of rackets

…

sometimes we win

sometimes we lose

sometimes we take

things for granted

and the real pleasure

is actually playing the game

we have grown to love

there are times

dull colored pencils

a horizon vanishes

with eraser dust

…

when we need

to find the answer

for ourselves

instead of asking others

for the answer

as that’s when true growth

and learning happens

organ to the heart

at the concert hall

listening to the rainfall

under cypress trees

…

what we find

meditative and relaxing

might not be what others

also feel and that’s okay

what works for us

works for us

and that’s what matters

setting the standard

dining room table

wilting flower arrangements

are the last to leave

…

takes a tremendous

amount of ability

but it doesn’t stop there

we must continue

pushing for change

or else we risk

falling behind