Wake Up

Wake up past the break of night’s dark sky

flaunting its band of stars across its brow.

Wake up to the whisper of water along the bay,

its light lacing through pearls of clouds.

Wake up, wake up to bells ringing in the day

and flapping sails in this breezy blue hour.

Wake up to a flutter of birds on the wing,

tumbling shadows across warm white sand.

Wake up to the beating heart inside its cage 

of bones. We are not here for long.

Flying Kite Haibun

On the magic lift of wind, the kite sails the sky

on the tension of a string wound around a stick

firm in the hands of a child. Smiling squinty-eyed 

in the light of full afternoon sun and running 

after its dip and dive, it lands nose down in sand.

Tears fall unaware of forces of lift, gravity, drag,

of this thing of paper, balsa, and bows trying to fly

                                            offering bright wings

                                      upward toward the heavens

                                          blessing the next breeze.