the front door opens
and the old year slips out
through a back window
Standing in line with my family at a shrine today, under the twisted branches of tall pine trees and the eaves of an old wooden building, alarms started going off all around me. Shortly after, a long, rolling 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck.
What a way to start the year. It was almost as if the gods had heard someone’s prayer and given a sign that it was granted.
With that, I leave you with the first poem of 2024 and the last of 2023.
Happy New Year to all!!!
(1)
Not turkey, beef, or ham,
it’s Kentucky Fried Chicken,
Christmas in Japan.
(2)
as soon as it leaves
it begins its return
the darkest day
(3)
through patterns of frost
dawn’s light dances
on my window
(4)
the clouds talk about free will
and the wind listens
(5)
what a delight
the warmth of my own breath
on this frigid night
(6)
outside looking in
warm hotel windows
my breath hangs in the air
(7)
today
we say goodbye
and you become the past
As always, thank you for reading.
