Third day of autumn—

someone’s left an apple core

at the wayside shrine.

Chapel

A wayside chapel—

someone has laid sunflowers

near the saint’s left foot.

Heron

autumn afternoon—

a great blue heron rises

from the wayside pond

First days of autumn—

pilgrims leave their worn-out shoes

at the wayside shrine.

on a wayside stone

secret little alphabet

only lizards read

a wayside beggar

sniffing paradise in crumbs

tossed into her bowl

in a wayside park

only one pigeon cooing

and a crimson leaf