California drought—
 
on an autumn afternoon
 
we sing songs for rain.

 
 
 

To the fading light
 
of an autumn afternoon
 
a crow gives its voice.

 
 
 

Autumn afternoon—
 
my neighbor’s cigarette smoke
 
drifts across my fence.

 
 
 

Autumn afternoon—
 
a torn spiderweb flutters
 
in a gentle breeze.

 
 
 

Sizzling afternoon—
 
into the river a crow
 
drops like Icarus.

 
 
 

Summer afternoon—
 
on a weathered wooden fence
 
a dove leaves its song.

 
 
 

April afternoon—
 
an old man blowing smoke rings
 
makes some children laugh.

 

 
 
 

Windy afternoon—
 
a wren makes little headway
 
through the cruel blasts.

 
 
 

Windy afternoon—
 
chimes hanging in the plum tree
 
howl like feral beasts.

 
 
 

Winter afternoon—
 
smoke rising from a chimney
 
scents the falling snow.