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- Juicy And Delicious -

                                          Juicy autumn fruit
          

inorganic garden

metal beads dropped in
a great jar of liquid glass
will anything grow—
from inorganic kernels
tucked within a sunless hall?

rainbow branches rise
as brittle flames pierce the seas 
crystal cores blooming
art and science harmonize
in a forest made of glass

this everyone knows:
plants grow green under the sun
nature teaches still
primordial elements
are mysteries yet unearthed

A Triad of Tanka VI: Autumn Failing

A cracked, lone brown leaf

Spiralling quickly downwards

Knows only the ground;

But in that motion exalts 

As if a plunging falcon.
-------------------------------------

Fallen, wind-blown leaves

Huddling against grey kerbstones

In abject neglect.

Already parks quieter...

Their iron railings more stark.
-------------------------------------

The thick sap retreats

When gnarled bark tightens its grip

On inner heartwood;

Summer faded into nights...

Autumn, failing, covered all.

A Triad of Tanka V: Forever Her

That first piercing stare

Which shoved my young innocence

Into confusion.

Suddenly...my little pond

Was tipped into her ocean.
-------------------------------------

On the way to work

I would linger in the streets,

Shopping in windows,

Hoping to catch a shy glimpse

Of drifting cloud wrapped in flame!

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

The long road was wide;

But could not hold the whole World.

Though at that moment...

It seemed to me that the road

Desperately

the old man dawns

with callous laid hands
the old man toils garden soil
of this dry, hard land.
as his blood, sweat and tears drip,
he gladly gives all he can.

he has seen the dawn,
and he has seen the sun set,
now he sees it all
as meaning and metaphor,
of this living garden bed.

he realizes
that everything in the end
must wither and die.
and his years

Echoes in the Empty Wine Glasses

another glass poured—
questions ripple in the glass
each sip slow savored
swirled to reveal the secrets
tart on the tip of the tongue

your hand grasps at mine
arms entwine beneath the cloth—
a feast set for two
titillation passion served
pleasure decanted on course

hollow goblets clink,
laughter's dessert shops on lips
that join for quick kiss—
yet the night seeps through fingers
like the wine we

Beloved One

Ask me not whenceforth
from which place or time I come 
from, dear lufu of mine  
Beewolf and seizer of hearts 
come-hither at me door Sire 

Query onely beau 
and without askance kiss me 
Like a flowery rose dear 
sitting on thy breast sweet love 
scented sweetly at your side 

Seek me as the root

Sun and Storm Song

Triptych 8-20-25 Sponsor: John Anderson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
sun and storm song

eerie storm warning
light swallowed by ebony
banshee ballads rise
in mantras of humid breaths
atonal whirlwinds unleashed

downbeats of thunder
lightning rakes holes in the sky
tempest dirge rumbles
curtains of raindrops descend
plainchants of torrential rain 

sun and storm collide
colors rise from light and mist
drenched in neon tears
sunbows arch in harmonies
orchestration of rainbows

The Flames of Love

Fuel~

that first knowing look
eyes meet, a warmth grows inside
you lay the kindling
trees beginning that old dance
laying stones to contain it

Heat~

strike sparks of desire
this heat grows into hot flames
keep adding the fuel
the dance that builds what then will
burn hot and settle, steady

Oxygen~

the flames may waver
blow on embers with kisses
they need constant care
flames burn hot with whispered

TO BEING IN MIND-BLOWING AWARENESS

TO BEING IN MIND-BLOWING AWARENESS

Rocking and rolling,
Aping hedges in the winds:
Blowing, yet rooted:
Though moving, there’s no progress;
Such mind-blowing awareness:-

Such mockery!
Moving, but going nowhere:
Mind and body stunned:-
In aiding progress, one must
Always seek divine guidance:-

Moving is one thing,
Progressing is another;
With a focused mind, 
Seek our God’s navigation:
Progressing in assurance:-

Whence this art to hit heart, no dart

Bewitching Beauty,
Whence hast come this unique skill--
Shooting darts at will--
Thy skill O to hit man’s heart
By sheer merit, not with dart!    
___________________________
Translation (Tanka) | 28.08.2025 | beauty, heart, arrow
Note: Here is a verse (in Anushtubh meter) from Bhartrihari’s Shringaara Shatakam (hundred verses on love and romance). Here the poet wonders from where

through it all

you weave a cushion
to what might've been a free fall
dragging each tumble
into elongated bounce
gentle—over trampoline

instead of one splat
letting my body shatter
flipping narrative
providing a fluffy cloud
unable to hold my body weight

sort of metaphor
easiest to decipher
if seeking what's flipped
is what you have been after
not a murder with knife's back

IN AND OF BOTCHED SOWN UNAWARENESS

IN AND OF BOTCHED SOWN UNAWARENESS

Just unlock your mind,
And let its waves freely flow:
Frothing awareness:-
I thought you needed my help;
Me, loving unaware:

How unfortunate,
My mental awareness botched;
My mind blindsided:
Triumphant love shadowing
Forgiveness being denied:-

We reap what we sow.
To reap love, you must sow it:
Life’s divine wisdom:-
How could I have sown hate?!
Please God, reveal it to me:-

Ready and

A Triad of Tanka IIII: Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji waking,

Lifting on girdling pink cloud

In early dawning,

Casts its slopes and snowcapped peak

On flat mirroring water. 
-------------------------------------

Fuji; slow sunrise.

Then a sea of blazing cloud 

Sets the hills aflame!

Crowding onto a shoreline:-

Hosts of purple lavender.
-------------------------------------

Fuji in Moonshine.

Floating cranberries, amassed,

Shiver in cold light,

Ruby redness contrasting

Against crystaline night sky.

progression

may concedes to june
when spring rebirth is complete
the time to mature -
grassy hills turn verdant green
blossoms explode with color

july soon refines
june's promise of fulfillment
expanding its gifts -
fuller and vibrant glory
paints the mature summertime

late august moves in
Heading towards surrender
come autumn's flurry -
fading greens and colors hush
on their way to winter sleep

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emotions, haiku, japan, love, metaphor, personification, sadness, seasons, simile