....

shouldering the world
Atlas tries to climb a hill
with no useful result

linked to carpe diem; Otiosity

facing skyward

with brilliance to share

lemon yellow sun

linked to carpe diem; Sunflower

after fireworks
the silence is clearer
                                 darkness is deeper                 (Bjorn Rudberg)

the children grow so quiet

and their elders feel undone 

linked to carpe diem; Tan Renga

 the rain approaches

the evening sky prepares

to host a wet night

linked to carpe diem; Rain in Dusk

dried up insect womb

clinging still to place of birth

 void of life

linked to carpe diem; Cicada

thief in shinto shrine
searching through the offerings
his sins are many 

linked to carpe diem; Nagoshi

clutch of lovely ladies
shyly watch festivities
and giggle as he passes 

linked to carpe diem; Gion Festival

scented summer eve

 high-pitched excitement blossoms

with exploding stars

------------

Boston esplanade
William Tell Overture plays
as colors fill the sky

linked to carpe diem; Fireworks

ancient lowland fields

flooded green and growing

bent-backed farmer

linked to carpe diem; Green Paddy

the rainy season
a paper lantern in hand
                           I walk along the verandah       (Buson)

wooden planks beneath my feet

the downpour just beyond reach  

linked to carpe diem; Rainy Season Tan Renga

as the day closes

the sun comes to rest

below the horizon

linked to carpe diem; Evening Lull

in the jungle

little cuckoo trills another song

 I tally with dread

I am fascinated by the legend of the little cuckoo's death after singing 8008 songs. It's a number of perfect symmetry and balance - like nature....   

linked to carpe diem; Little Cuckoo

winged victory

king amongst fishers

halcyon blue

linked to carpe diem; Kingfisher

pond emergence

delicate symbol of good fortune

accepting tossed coins 

linked to carpe diem; Lotus

hailing the new morn

startling in indigo blue
 eyes that do not blink

linked to carpe diem; Morning Glory

in the old barn
behind the straw bales
a secret meeting

while master is far afield
old slave learns his letters 

linked to carpe diem; Tan Renga

All Askew

linked to orangeuglad

 iris petal tongues
maw open to the sun
sipping summer 

linked to carpe diem; Blue Flag Iris

precious green children

row upon row expanding

so many mouths to feed

linked to carpe diem; Rice Planting

Summer Rain

                                                                          by Leonid Afremov "Mirror of the Rain"

drenched in colors 

after hours pavement reflects

 his empty street                                          

linked to carpe diem; Midsummer Rain

Lost in Woods

two wrong turns

wood path lengthens before me

home seems faraway

linked to carpe diem; Lost in Woods

tan renga

scattered in sand
embers of a saltwood fire
face to face with stars

sea of jeweled perfection

I wade in glittering tides

linked to carpe diem; Tan Renga

Morality

lacking morals

he clambers over his peers

to grab the brass ring  

linked to haiku heights; Moral

My Sunset View

Yeah, I know, the pole and wires are unsightly, but I think the watery colors make up for that!

linked to sharethejoy

Peony

hidden in folds

scented love unrequited 

I stand at your door  

linked to carpe diem; Peony

Tea Bowl

I sip reflecting

and find myself

in the tea bowl

linked to carpe diem; 'in the tea bowl'

Spring Tea

tender harvest

destined for my garden party

it takes a village

linked to carpe diem; New Tea