Silence

 
 
 

On an empty bench
 
silence settles at twilight
 
like a tired old cat.

Web

 
 
 

on a Starbucks cup
 
a black widow weaves her web—
 
deepening autumn

Stains

 
 
 

deepening autumn—
 
sunlight the color of tea
 
stains the garden path

Beak

 
 
 

in the blackbird’s beak
 
one drop of river water
 
for my gingko tree

Songs

 
 
 

How many more songs
 
will be allotted to you,
 
blackbird at the pond?

Blackbird

 
 
 

Blackbird at the pond,
 
the last time I saw your beak
 
it was filled with song.

Hat

 
 
 

Autumn afternoon—
 
the scarecrow’s tattered straw hat
 
takes off with the wind.

Frost

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
now that frost has settled in,
 
how will you keep warm?

Leaf

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
did you see the last red leaf
 
fall from the maple?