Tea

 
 
 

Last day of the month—
 
tea leaks onto the table
 
from my cracked white cup.

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Penny

 
 
 

even a penny
 
seems to be a great fortune
 
lit by the full moon

Cue

 
 
 

The flower vendor,
 
taking his cue from a wren,
 
greets the day with song.

Jeer

 
 
 

first sound of the year—
 
a crow cracks open its beak
 
to jeer passersby

Death

 
 
 

first death of the year—
 
the feral cat’s lukewarm breath
 
leaks from her nostrils

Journey

 
 
 

the year’s first journey—
 
taking more seeds and suet
 
to the bird feeder

First

 
 
 

the year’s first haiku
 
in a tiny florid script
 
on cream-white paper