This
tree
stands –
lights and
ribbons encircling –
like a million other trees.
(remember the popcorn
and cranberry strings? Paper
chains and brightly decorated cookies?)
look! what a cacophony of ornaments!
laughing like stars –
they silently chart our course
across a lifetime.
oh cats, where has the time gone?
In the foggy Seattle dusk it was easy to ignore the silent wending through our maze of legs Neighbors gathered, discussing the somethings – and nothings – of daily life She seeking only warmth nourishment, safety from predators When the inevitable question was carelessly loosed into the night laughter couldn’t disguise the response – No…
August hangs heavy in the air uncomfortably cloaking all who venture outside August forced open its eyes later this morning than yesterday labored breathing hissing over soon ssooooon (I found a cicada lying silent in the street on my morning walk today) What happened to May’s sweet promise the glittering dance of June July’s sultry…
At the end of the second floor hall was a step (up) and door leading to the third floor Among the small spaces created by the eaves I could hide and feel snug except Just before Christmas when it was off limits Straight ahead the attic peak held a random assortment of boxes, suitcases, furniture…
Planning a return to France began in January – a far reach from youth, when ‘the plan’ was nothing (but) a plane ticket, suitcase and love As winter ebbed and Spring came into bloom I deleted items from my list: étudier la langue (at the top) confirm passports, airline tickets technology requirements to stay in…
Didn’t understand but listened built an ark loaded animals two by two Cold, wet smelly, nauseating crowded, stifling drifting, drifting day after day, two by two Rain stopped water receded everyone disembarked slowly life began again Seeds and flowers sun and rain nurturing and time to grow Two by two As we reach the shores…
There was something magical – and fragile – about the tissue papers on which we corresponded (marked PAR AVION) and the interminable weeks between each letter Post World War II the world was trying to rebuild, heal we (Yukiko and I) were part of that process – two children: one Japanese, one American Our shared…