fragrant notes flowing

from an old monk’s bamboo flute—

cherry-blossom songs

First day of the month—

a sparrow at my doorstep

pipes out three thin notes.

Song

A song in the air—

notes I’ve never heard before

fly from my plum tree.

Trombones

afternoon concert—

sparrows catching golden notes

from the jazz trombones

mariachi band—

a little thrush tilts her beak

to drink in the notes

hard winter’s night—

ragged notes of wind chimes

breaking the ice

the last smoky notes

fading from her husky voice—

blues café at dawn

the belfry pigeons

free of priestly conventions

cooing holy notes