first warm spell —
I gaze into the sky
where the shuttle streaked

our neighbor sings —
spring snow melts
into the muskeg

rain . . .
a cup of chamomile tea
and The Tale of Genji

cherry blossoms
today the courage
to speak to her

sweet breeze
the quince tree flutters
with red parrots

spring breakup
my missing button
in her sewing box

water sounds . . .
my memory wanders the coast
of a summer lake

kitchen mop-up —
the peace of moving out
in widening arcs

telling it
like it is
one black crow

bird watching —
naked boys in the canal
make a pose