To master silence,
 
sit beneath the cherry tree
 
during blossom time.

 
 
 

Memorial Day—
 
the master sergeant’s widow
 
weeps beside his grave.

 

 
 
 

Questions at daybreak:
 
Mountain, who is your master?
 
River, your mistress?

Buddha

 
 
 

Before the Buddha
 
mastered walking on water,
 
he sank fifty times.

Chores

 
 
 

sweeping the garden—
 
even the haiku master
 
does his daily chores

Concert

 
 
 

the organ master
 
dusting the keys one more time
 
before the concert