in prayer
stepping back to see the rose
amid the thorns

cautiously

walking together

through thick fog

teen fad?
menopausal monitor--
mood ring.

cold water
brushing my face--
alone at low tide

Ebbing waters
necessary journey--
alone at low tide

flushed face
icy hands and feet
seasonal paradox

the green house
revealed by God's messenger
square and sturdy

naked,
the vulnerable seed
picked up by the bitter wind

glowing sky
otherwordly clouds
breathing earth

God lightens our burden
as soon as we put it down--
He picks it up.

I clean my damaged soul
for the image of the Perfect
even in you

the dust of time
settles on my soul--
for God to touch

quietly, the finger
of God writes in the
dust of my soul

rag in hand,
I imperfectly clean
the dust of my soul

impatiently waiting--
lusting for your life's blood--
a vampire bat

sometimes the security blanket
is too heavy
to let in the light

hidden under the blanket,
one must choose-- security
or light

dark and sticky
oozing anguish and heartache
restricting all in its path

rich and firey
gives way to chocolate brown--
stored sweetness

sweet and fragrant
in the cold morning air
jasmine tea

Screaming yellow leaves
appear suddenly among
the abundant brown

Fussy toddlers scream.
Hoards of teen girls run by--
Friday at Walmart

Forgive me, Lord
for my mind sometimes sprouts wings
and flies away.

pounding raindrops
seeping paralyzing cold
into my heart

Moving forward,
we step out in fear--
together.

people are mirrors
held up by God for us
to see ourselves.

In the deafening silence
God Speaks.

I advance uncertainly,
yet balanced and centered.
I do not fall.

angels heal
in the hidden
mists of sleep

Autumn colored cat
hypnotically gazing
behind white lace

old woman
feeding a solitary
house plant

harvest moon--
reflecting on uncounted
drops of rain

unknowing
the spider clings to the web
in the rain

fragile tree
uncertainly blooms in
the midst of drought

tiny diamond
ablaze with love
luminous offering

on the road
fighting for its life
the grass grows

the apples
in the house are safer--
no bees

your head--
pounding against the earth--
the wound is yours

volatile water
furiously whirling
bursting its boundary

the divine healer
with a single strand of love
knits me together

luminous gleaming
dwelling of the divine
imprisoned for love

August lawn
grows in patches.
Are there goats?

mid august lawn
yearning for independence,
grows unevenly

mid-August;
the lawn a quilt
of greens and brown

in the twilight
dancing on my brain
fading shadows

fleeting moments
bourne away by the wind--
dandelion time

I awaken
to a crisp August morning--
God's surprise

scraps of yarn
collected from my life
weaving into recovery

cows in the stream
huddled in the shade
sizzling beef

searing heat
pours in the open window
while I clean

life is change--
like changing your clothes
in the public
of your own mind

what is hidden,
in the light of the blue moon,
is laid bare.

awakened at night,
I see shadows not perceived
in Standard Time.

tenderly
the rain falls; and
prayers rise

i move through;
drifting past a forgotten
familiarity

The Heron

silver and airborne,
I spot it as I drive past
swerving to avoid me

I hear the music
but I am powerless
to play the tune

interweaving pattern
unrecognizable but
from a distance

twilight intonation--
the muted sound
of silent mourning

the searing radiance
of complete love--realized
through reasonless gift

glowing like a ruby
it shimmers; lingering;
just out of reach

Midsummer
dons her wedding dress
patchwork fields of Queen Anne's Lace

the earth trembles
in a deafening roar--
biker weekend

is it a sin
to compose haiku
during Mass?

on a hot day
a woman fans herself
another wears wool

grey haired woman
on a hot July day
in a wool shawl

dog growls
runs down the driveway
timid deer

live in Gettysburg
see Abraham Lincoln
driving a car

the bright sun
declares the brilliant jewels
of God's Love

in my dream
a pink ambulance
waits

dog under bush
furiously digging
unearthing the past

enveloping warmth
invigorating coolness
each day a gift

I open my eyes
at midlife
suddenly unsure
of whether I am riding on a speeding roller coaster
or falling off a steep cliff

illusion
stripped away
like the bark of a tree--
the pain
of relentless sanding.

endings
made bittersweet
by spring life

morning darjeeling
fresh in a flowered tea pot--
sublime happiness

Shokkou Bishoujo

in dappled sunlight
piecing together my life--
she weaves silently

I thank God in the
searing, end-of-May heat,
for iced tea.

rainbow appears
behind barbed wire--
hope is alive

slowly waking
on a winter morning--
thick fog lifting

I call out
and the Spirit breathes--
infusing love.

late lilacs
God's graduation
gift--Thanks!

I am shown
the dark precipice and so--
move toward light.

I need wisdom.
God said, "No you don't.
I am Wisdom."

flash of red
glimpsed through the trees
on black wing

white from yellow
blooming in the grass
not weeds to me!

small yellow blossom
favorite childhood flower
do you like butter?

crimson bird
on new spring lawn ~
God's artwork.

the air is full
of abundant white petals
an Easter blizzard

perfumed flowers
in the warm spring air--
God's gentle love

silent cows
under the trees
in the rain

follow the sign
to Karumi Garden--
fresh perspective

Sweetie's Haiku

I walked with Mom.
She won't let me dig.
shake it off...

the blessing of
a chilly evening
with fire wood

owls call
as the sun sets
i drink tea

run outside
comfort the dog
who saw a snake

lonely dove
mournfully cries--
longing for a mate.

TMI haiku

I'm a dog
therefore I must
roll in poo

clear and cold,
water bubbles over
the white rocks

two by two the geese
float calmly by and
follow us unnoticed

purple crocus
grows in onion grass
spring is here

cold dark clouds
bright warm sun
bi-polar March

Come back!
Stay away
from the guard geese

roots in the river
become a fierce monster
in a dog's brain

walking Sweetie
food from friendly strangers
spoiled doogy!

breathe in the pine
scent of moist soil
spring perfume

honking geese
fly low across the water
fog lifts

frogs, geese...and an owl
pink clouds on a blue sky
peaceful evening

birds chasing bugs
watercolor sky
evening in spring

small bursts of color
birds dart between bare trees
confident of spring

sun and moon
singing together
evensong

bundled up
the dog and I
sunset walk

the bitter cold
seeps through our layers
can't stop here!

word salad
crunchy colors
brain food

gnarled apple grove
slated for destruction
PA progress

Adolescent
with guitar
pensive troubadour

in winter's depths
a warm day
emerging hope

xylophone ribs
remains of a deer
in icy mud

detritus layers
nature's archeology
feeding all

in the canopy
--hidden--mystery birds
sing their song

endless energy
hyperactive otter
eats and eats

chrystaline
emerald waters
burgeoning with life

gentle arms
lovingly protecting--
weeping willow

loud BUZZ
giant bee?!
hummingbird

Ponderous oak
precariously leaning--
childhood cut down

A black crow
on a granite monument--
wintery day

The fractured heavens
echo bewilderment--
winter thunder

trees
bare of leaves
await Spring

time,
like a desert snake across hot sands, travels;
wraps back upon itself;
disapears
and yet continues.

each "now"
light or dark--
God's gift

As I work
through the pain
everything I do
and each time I rest
is a gift from God.

Tea

Warm and golden,
giving comfort and strength
from history's hands

pieces of herself
from the last half century
fill four households
loving from beyond

~This is my first attempt at tanka, a lyrical 5 line poem from Japan.

Strong wind--
I am awake.
God's breath.

It figures!

Warm rain, the grass grows
(after gifts of ski tickets)
in January

I've run out of
medicine. I think I'll gnaw
on a chair leg.



(Thanks to dh for suggesting this med-free metaphor!)