Sentinel…

On snowy salt-marsh reed,

a lone redwing blackbird clings;

Sentinel of Spring

Winter song

Winter’s crystal chimes,
glittering, cheerfully singing –
Where away? Oh Spring!

One blood red drop
riveting against fallen snow –
Oh, first Cardinal

Virgin, pristine snow –
so white, glistening in sun’s glow,
dammed ice. Damn!

In Sasebo ryokan
your soft caress heats the night.
Goose down quilt.

Exploring, searching,

Six sided stars fill the night.

Winter waterfalls.

Micro-flakes falling,
Barely seen, slowly accumulating.
Freshening Valentin’s snow.

Like lemmings falling Thousands rushing to death, oblivion. Shadow snow falls, vanishing.

Smoke on the river
Frozen over, trees dressed in white.
Magic in winter’s night.