bitter iced coffee
 
to help swallow bitter news—
 
dog days of August

 
 

While watching the news
 
after Orthodox Easter,
 
I see nothing’s changed.

 
 

Good Friday, bad news:
 
Ukraine reels under bombings
 
and more babies die.

 
 
 

A crow in the oak
 
manages to croak out news
 
of a baby’s birth.

 
 
 

Cold December rain—
 
perhaps someone with good news
 
will knock at my door.

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
do you bring good news today?
 
If not, go away!

 
 
 

Labor Day’s bad news:
 
ashes from a nearby fire
 
rain down on my car.

 
 
 

Winter evening rain—
 
to hear the pitter-patter,
 
I turn off the news.

 
 
 

Good Friday, bad news:
 
The pandemic still rages
 
and the death toll mounts.

 
 
 

Autumn’s first good news:
 
every window is intact
 
after the earthquake.