trudging alone
on jacaranda lane
my birthday

Birthday Alone

Published in my book, RUSTLE OF BAMBOO LEAVES

80th Birthday

the regal tree
bends with the wind
bowed but not broken
he celebrates
his 80th birthday

Sketchbook, Vol. 5, No. 4
July/August 2010

Happy Birthday Jasmine!

To Jasmine, my lovable, adorable first grandchild!

A dog's tale

LORNA AND LOLA
a dog’s tale

Yesterday, my daughter requested me to accompany her to a friend’s house about two hours drive from our place. Before returning home, I invited her to dinner at her favorite Thai restaurant close to our house where she enjoyed her favorite dish with tofu and exotic drink. That’s the least I could do for her, I thought.

Psst, tomorrow is her birthday and I plan to bring her to Hokkaido, a new Japanese seafood buffet in Long Beach, one of only two locations in southern California. So this morning after my workout in the gym, I bought her a petite succulent house plant with gorgeous red flowers which I put in her room to surprise her when she comes home.


she could not bear to look back
and hear her whimper again

nor see her mournful face once more
begging for a warm embrace

she gave away her dog Lola
to her friend for adoption

Birthday

surrounded
and embraced with love
by family and friends
what more can I ask
for my birthday

among the thistles
a molted snake's skin
she turns sixteen

Notes from the Gean
Vol. 1, Issue 3, Dec. 2009

My birthday

surrounded
and overwhelmed with love
of family members
on my birthday
wish she's still here today