A few stray raindrops,
 
scarcely umbrella-worthy,
 
splash on my bare head.

Strays

 
 
 

April afternoon—
 
on the neighbor’s balcony
 
stray cats sun themselves.

Leaves

 
 
 

under the maple
 
a dozen stray rotting leaves
 
I forgot to rake

Cranes

 
 
 

before the cranes fly
 
gleaning every stray rice grain
 
from harvested fields

Harvest

 
 
 

rice harvesting days—
 
rats in the paddy waiting
 
to snatch some stray grains