April’s first mishap—
 
I stumble on a pebble
 
near the garden gate.

 
 
 

Japanese garden—
 
a child drops one smooth pebble
 
into the koi pond.

 
 
 

Pebble in my shoe—
 
how can such a tiny thing
 
keep me from the way?

Pebble

 
 
 

First day of the month—
 
I place a small white pebble
 
on my father’s grave.

Step

 
 
 

a tiny pebble—
 
Buddha lodging in my shoe
 
step by painful step

Missing

 
 
 

my father’s chess set
 
with both black bishops missing—
 
pebbles take their place

Look

 
 
 

in a single look
 
taking in the mountain range
 
and one white pebble

Dancing

 
 
 

the jasmine seller
 
dancing homeward at day’s end—
 
pebble in her shoe

Chess

 
 
 

grandfather’s chess set
 
with a missing black bishop—
 
pebble takes its place

Keepsakes

 
 
 

a thorn, a feather,
 
a pebble in my pocket—
 
keepsakes from my quest