First week of the year—
 
no snow in my yard, unless
 
you count white roses.

 
 
 

Autumn abundance—
 
the hymns of white-crowned sparrows
 
sanctify my yard.

 
 
 

October surprise—
 
a bright-faced dandelion
 
pops up in my yard.

 
 

Somewhere in Ukraine
 
a plum tree is blossoming
 
in a dead man’s yard.

 
 
 

Crows, doves, dragonflies—
 
on summer days these pilgrims
 
sanctify our yard.

 
 
 

A crack in the fence—
 
I can see the grass has died
 
in my neighbor’s yard.

 
 
 

Summer morning walk—
 
I smile at yellow dahlias
 
in a stranger’s yard.

 
 
 

A gentle spring breeze
 
scatters dandelion fluff
 
all over my yard.

 

 
 
 

How quiet my yard,
 
now that the white-crowned sparrows
 
have fled to the north!

 

 
 
 

The children next door
 
try to outshout the May wind
 
that roars through their yard.