夏の嵐

The sound of thunder,

As a storm comes near,

Oddly comforting

Along with the fear,

It brings cool air to

Douse the heat down here...

Imagination

A surreal surprise,

The world I can see

When I close my eyes...

Pills

New day, opportunity!

Time to begin,

This old body ready,

But before charging in,

Remember to take

Your medicine... 

Transition

Waning summer,

Few cicadas left alive,

A time when

Bell crickets arrive...

Yasukuni

They gather at the Shrine,

In mid-August heat,

On the day of their

Country's long-ago defeat...

Lined up, silently sweating

They patiently wait,

To bow at the altar

Beyond the Torii gate...  

Memories of loss,

Defeat in war,

Linger a longer time,

Weigh more...

Fragile Freedom

They were totally surprised by

The government intervention,

Too high, too busy playing,

Not paying attention...

Taking for granted

Their right to have fun,

Ignoring the politics,

As it all came undone...

東京通勤

Into the East Capitol,

Morning mass migration,

Overcrowded roads and trains,

Samurai commuter nation...

Summer In Ukraine

Huddled in a tunnel,

Under a fearsome sky,

Where Russian drones

And missiles fly,

They then drop down

To blast and kill,

Cruelly, randomly,

Where they will...

Self Adjustment

Refuse to be constricted,

Defined, by one's race,

Or the contours, shapes

Of body and face...

Look in the mirror at

This thing called me,

Then try to understand

What others see...

Gather up gumption

And make a plan,

To adjust, improve,

And change what I can...

Sunset Flights

Day end twilight,

Swarm of gnats,

Soon to be supper

For the bats...

時間の流れ

Usually seconds and minutes,

But sometimes, cruelly, hours,

Are the time units of our lives

Which a day quickly devours...

Humpty Dumpty

Uncontrolled, careless,

Plate dropped and broken,

A morning mess...

An inauspicious way,

I sigh inside,

To start the day...

孫

Babysitting grandkids,

They fight and play,

All good, just fine,

Brighten up my day,

Some of their DNA is mine...

Slumber

So, sleep is something

Into which you fall?

But you're already

Lying down after all...

Trapped

She was unable to

Recognize the obstriction

Of her tendency

Toward addiction...

台風の雨

The typhoon's winds

Slowly weaken and shift,

A cool soaking rain

Its parting gift...

Truism

Ignorance protects

From the force of

Facts' effects...

Old Politician

Running into the 

Wall of old age,

And all he could 

Do was rage...

So frustrated to find,

His body could not

Keep up with his mind...

His ego ablaze

And inspired,

But the rest of him

Rusted and tired...

Lunar Colors

Crescent moon, glowing,

Soft-shining through,

Sunset pastel clouds

Light orange and blue...

Risk Management

Despite admonitions of

Honorable notions,

We ended up just

Going through the motions,

Opting, instead, to do,

What was tried and true...