at the duck pond’s edge
 
on an autumn afternoon
 
feathers, blood, and bones

Quest

 
 
 

In its quest for koi,
 
a duck at the pond ignores
 
all the sunflowers.

Rising

 
 
 

first moon of the year
 
fat and white in its rising
 
over the duck pond

Plowing

 
 
 

old mandarin duck
 
plowing his way through the drifts—
 
unexpected snow

Waiting

 
 
 

waiting for first snow
 
the last days of November—
 
an empty duck pond