Early October—

we pray for drought-breaking rain,

but the sky stays blue.

Autumn

A brown sparrow sings

near the house with blue shutters—

deepening autumn.

Kite

A red silken kite

chases a frightened sparrow

through the clear blue sky.

Playing by himself,

a little boy dressed in blue

dreams of growing up.

faded blue jacket

torn from the scarecrow’s shoulders

by a random gust

small kitchen garden—

a Buddha carved of blue stone

guarding the onions

blue morning glories

twining round a rusted post—

neighbor’s black dog barks

the stillness of tea

cradled within a blue cup

before the first sip

a blue serape

shielding her bony shoulders

from the morning chill

drops of morning dew

pooling on the blue table

shaken from a rose