step two

give it time

the tea needs

to steep

…

comes after

step one

and is before

step three

but what happens

when we don’t have

steps to follow?

part of

watching rainfall

hitting the pavement

with rhythm

…

the schedule

no matter

the day, time, or place

we will take part in

an experience

we can only repeat

in this one moment

foldable chair

dinner party

the cat lurks under

the table for crumbs

…

always a time and place

for when we need

to have them out

for people to sit on

and when we need

to put them away

to make more room

on the side

bento boxes

all filled with rice

and umeboshi

…

separate

and divided

never allowed

to touch

for the food we eat

has to be savored

one at a time

let's face it

vintage car

has driven and turned

children to adults

…

while they don’t make

em’ like they used too

may be true

we aren’t the same

kind of people

we were fifty years ago

or are we?

when the sun

festival lights

fill the night sky

among fireflies

…

comes up

we work

during the day

so we can play

when the sun

eventually

goes down

think think think

on a rainy day

marching through puddles

the dog's tail wags

…

we have no time

for food or drink

but if we have a dime

all we will find is that

money isn’t everything

if we have no more time

to spend it on

since

awaken in

the morning light

finds our face

…

when has there

been a time

where we can

literally start to learn

any topic

from the palms

of our hands?

maxim

entering the kitchen

an ant welcomes

their roommate

…

treat others and ourselves

with the dignity and respect

we know everyone deserves

as we have no idea

what is going on

within others and even

our own worlds

black and white / white and black

in the rain

a branch reaches

extending pine cones

…

red and green

yellow and purple

blue and orange

green and red

purple and yellow

orange and blue

either way we compliment each other

rake it up

In a windstorm

a war suddenly starts

and stops all at once

…

only when

leaves fall

to the ground

and leave a mess

requires us

to notice when

things accumulate

sip or slurp

boiling point

pho broth envelopes

my eyes

…

as is life

there is

always going

to be a time

and a place

when we should

do and act a certain way

dedicated

and still

we feel the need

to try again

…

to being

a specialist

with deep knowledge

while being

a generalist

that knows many things

only on the surface

normal

staring at water

the more we see

the more we see

…

average

standard

why do we want

to be a commodity

like everyone else

when we can strive

to be ourselves?

explain it

packaging boxes

resting in place

the tape roller sings

…

to a novice

to an intermediate

to an advanced

to an expert

the message may

sound different but

the meaning is the same

looking for

forgotten watch

beeping and beeping

in the laundry room

…

what we lost

is always an act

we trace back

but if we have

no memory of the past

how will we find

what we’re looking for?

tools

bamboo whisk

making a sea

of green

…

make up

only part

of the equation

for it is our skill

and willingness to learn

is what makes

the biggest difference

emphasis

burnt trees

holding a peace sign

after the fire

…

if we take the phrase

“break the ice”

then choose to emphasize

only one word from the above

are we really saying

the same thing or

do we need more context?

read the comics

on repeat

the turntable spins

under the needle

…

then watch the film

then go back

and read the books

then do it

all over again

as we love to

relive these stories

food for

water falls

from the towel

to the sink

…

thought

gives us alot

to think about

but there's not enough

time in the day

to make a decision

without some reflection