Longings

dream demons
harass me all night
in my half empty bed
still waiting for you
all these years

Coffee mug

the coffee mug
with our pictures on it
that you gave me
before your sudden death
still unopened in its box

Full moon

full moon and empty arms

so hard to fill the void

she left behind

(another full moon variation)

my daughter
invites me to brunch
this Mother's day
just for a tender moment
she's her late mother

from my book, Rustle of bamboo leaves

room cleaning

the first doll she gave

her newly wed daughter

gathering dust
in the garage
his late wife's wheelchair

winter rain
the warmth of her touch
in my dream

First published in
The Heron's Nest
Vol. VIII, No 2, June 2006

then In my book, Haiku and Tanka Harvest © 2012
https://www.createspace.com/3737478

Spring cleaning

spring cleaning
for the third year
he still can't bear
to throw away
her love letters

Sketchbook, Vol. 6, No. 1
Jan/Feb. 2011

Fantasy fling

warmth of her touch
in that snowy weekend
fantasy fling
am I ready or a fool
to fall in love again

Modern English Tanka.
Vol. 1, No. 2. Winter 2006

Lovelorn

I dread
the dark demons
that chase my dream
your touch is so real
am I in love again

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

Longing

the swirling wind
plays havoc with the leaves
this cold cold day
she asks the mailman twice
for his letters

In my book,
Rustle of bamboo leaves

Aloneness

strains of ukulele
fill the sultry night
she fingers the dried lei
and hugs the memories
he left behind

Modern English Tanka.
Vol. 2, No. 3, Spring 2008

Expatriate

distant shore / the expatriate yearns / for home

ALONENESS

Dry leaves
smother the bench
where we used to daydream
and watch the waning sun give way
to night.
Alone,
I try to resurrect those days
which seem eternal spring.
But winter's here
again.


Reader's comments:

This mirror cinquain (2 4 6 8 2 2 8 6 4 2) creates an almost overwhelming sense of isolation. The image of "Dry leaves / smother" ing is a dominant image in the first verse; followed by the image of the "waning sun" are two well juxtaposed images that establish the theme of passing--the passing of natural objects and the passing of human relationships--the daydreams and a spouse who is now absent. In the second verse "resurrect" confirms the images of dying in verse 1, and juxtaposed with "eternal spring" and the arrival of "winter . . . again" intensifies the feeling expressed in the title. The expert selection of words to convey an image and a feeling is illustrated in these words: "smother", "used to daydream", "waning / to night", "resurrect" / "eternal spring", and "winter". "Aloneness" is a well crafted cinquain.