One thin note rises
 
from the old monk’s bamboo flute—
 
a cherry blossom!

 
 
 

Into its shadow
 
a bell releases one note—
 
autumn loneliness.

 
 
 

Autumn loneliness:
 
within its shadow the bell
 
gathers one more note.

Stone

 
 
 

Even though I know
 
every note of the old songs,
 
my tongue turns to stone.

Note

 
 
 

terracotta pot—
 
on its broken edge one note
 
from the blackbird’s song

Scribbling

 
 
 

on a blank note card
 
scribbling one line of haiku
 
with a bright red pen

Woodpeckers

 
 
 

Even woodpeckers,
 
at one thin note from the wren,
 
stop their hammering.

Journeying

 
 
 

journeying by night
 
with neither lamp nor candle
 
one thin note of joy

Flute

 
 
 

one thin note rising
 
from the old monk’s bamboo flute—
 
hibiscus blossom

Note

 
 

in this mountain spring
 
windsong and watersong meet
 
mingling note with note