Frost

 
 
 

Under a full moon
 
someone sowed the field with frost—
 
crystalline harvest.

Riches

 
 
 

In my wooden bowl
 
three kittens nestle—riches
 
for the coming year.

Icicles

 
 
 

I remember you,
 
icicles, from one June day—
 
dewdrops on the lawn.

Quilt

 
 
 

Tattered quilt,
 
will you keep me warm
 
one more night?

Blossoms

 
 
 

early plum blossoms
 
littering a small courtyard—
 
the gardener weeps

Fireplace

 
 
 

before the fireplace
 
old cat licking one white paw
 
and then the other

Offerings

 
 
 

lines of small children
 
bring spearflower offerings—
 
youngest one stumbles

Scarecrow

 
 
 

old poet rhyming—
 
scarecrow shakes its straw-filled head
 
at such silliness

Demanding

 
 
 

Have you come again,
 
mandarin duck, demanding
 
crumbs from my table?

Crow

 
 
 

shivering
 
in the cottonwood
 
crow curses