by phillipw | Apr 5, 2023 | BU, FL, LO, RE
Incapable Beauty The best thing that the poet pointed out Is that wise roses never know that all Are shriveling, young. The flowers never pout In sympathy with us. They never brawl With gods for us, to spare us from some fate We do not know awaits us. ...
by phillipw | Jan 5, 2023 | BU, FL, PH, RE
Sacred and Profane Buddhas The meaning of the Buddha is in all Things, not just sacred lotuses or trees Saints sit beneath. Secular flies let fall Their droppings on the painted frieze Brushed onto white rice paper on a screen, Or watercolor painted on...
by phillipw | Dec 12, 2022 | BR, FL, OR
Marmalade Scent is Missing The orange sunset seen through orange trees Shows Florida as orange, orange, green. The gloss of evergreen these orange tints tease With glints so slight of orange that the scene Defies the eyes to see the orange hints Upon the dark...
by phillipw | Feb 24, 2022 | CA, FL, HI, LU
The Heavenly Choir after It Fell on Florida The spider web comes Hot against his face; August In damp Kulaqua. In Florida humidity comes full On like a curse. A thunderstorm comes down In swashing curtains made of wet warm wool. A coolness follows but then comes...
by phillipw | Feb 6, 2022 | BR, FL, Ho, MO, TI
A 1950s Florida Day and July 20 and 21, 1969 Winged ants fly From a small house At the foot of Mount Fuji. ~ Buson The clapboard house shines white in afternoon Brevard in sunlight. There in front are green And orange from the flame vine. There’s no moon Above...
by phillipw | Dec 5, 2021 | BE, BR, FL, Ho, OR, TI
Enamel Trees Longing Ago The orange blossoms fill my native place. They fill it every year with white perfume. The scent has piquant yellow at heart’s space, The hearts held out bouquet-like, as a plume On green wing branches where the mockingbird Might...
