When you think
our Buddha-nature
is in every religion
even the
Southern Baptist!
You have eaten
too much,
now the haiku
slumbers
too!
Mosquitoes, at the screen
one, two, three,
Is it the light
or is it me?
Sometimes
you forget,
this old cat
has never said a
word.
The page of haiku
etched with
shadows of leaves.
Wind, rain, sun,
a walk,
three seasons!
Gaining, non gaining
six lorikeets together
cracking gum nuts.
In Autumn the persimmon
bleeds fruit,
deep yellow leaves then waits.
This spring morning
the flowers, bird calls,
wrapped in stillness.
A white splash on
the brown pergola,
bird unseen.
The senses of success
and failure serve merely
the Great Matter.
The morning light
touches the three snow gums
a bird’s three note song.
That we are given so little
but can still see the Way,
such gratitude.
The lorikeet pecking
on the old persimmon husk,
left over by the currawongs.
Seeing the neighbours’ new
baby a surge
of implicit love.
The old woman
undecided over
the ice cream freezer.
The Christmas guests
arrive, leaves on the swept
paths go unnoticed.
The kitten dumped and
fed milk, in another place
needles wait
In the train
the girl on her father’s knee
plays with his white beard.
Morning shower,
quilt brought in,
blossom on wet path.
Storm clouds,
bird vacated persimmon
stripped.
Medical Centre garden
woman weeps with friend,
old eyes look on.
Poetry reading,
plump Tongan woman
naps.
Trees blowing,
struggling
for stillness.
Morning rush hour,
mother duck, chicks
cut off from pond.
Monday morning,
office worker carries
bunch of yellow tulips.
Dead currawong
a mate carries
away a feather
In the rain
dead hakea
from summer drought
In the silent street
a security van turns the corner
tightening its curve
A pony stands in stubble
back to wind
crimson in one nostril
How still and silent
the flowers
in the rain
Forgetful cat
of rejected food
lies purring in lap
Lorikeet pecks old
persimmon tusk
left by currawongs
Kitten circles
Buddha statue
fur up
On the persimmon trunk
scratchings left
by the dead cat
What hope to end war
when she gobbles
chicken so thoughtlessly
Kitten’s first cold day
sleeps in sun
behind glass
Laughing at the
television skits
she opens the dark heart
On the dirt track
with tire marks
magazine of naked women
Storm over sleek
road — currawongs
feast on worms
Spring morning
dewy camellias
fresh possum dung
In the old cement
paws of
dead dogs
Summer rain
cat darts
inside annoyed
While meditating
a skull shape
in the doona folds
Winter afternoon
boys play in old tree
in summer shirts
Under lowering skies
black puppy
and master in black overcoat
Emerging from the Lake
triathlons like flying fish
upon a boat deck
In America all
is religion but
nothing sacred
Botanic Gardens restaurant
water bird families
snap-up expensive cake
On the tip of the persimmon
the morning sun
gilts the winter branches
Meditation
sometimes like a sick person
checking into a hospital
A talk on birds and
gardens but
no poetry
In the rain
the wattle bird harvests
camellia blossom
Settling down to
meditate three
grateful burps
Through the window
lighted web
scratching on glass
Sitting, sitting
still revolted by
innocent cockroach
Ripped out
two years ago
the wind flowers come back
From bright winter sky
falls dropped prey
a dead rat
Feathers after
cat strike beautiful
but never to fly again
Deep shadows under
summer gums
Zen ink!
White azalea on
cold spring morn the blossoms
hold back a bit
Morning meditation
lost tail feather bores
down in crystal light
Learning French,
the rozellas crack nuts
in the sun
Unfriendly cat stretched
out in summer heat
too languid to be cranky
The truck tips up
the garbage and takes away
a little of my aloneness
Squashing the nasty insect
what is the point of
all those veggie meals?
Cat licking
early morning licks
away my night thoughts
Old collegue on morning walk
his surly character revealed
in few words
Three wallabies block the path
seen so often how
strange that hopping-off
The cat oblivious
of day light saving
begs early afternoon feed
Reading Zen poetry
persimmon leaves fall
late autumn
Plum blossoms
embroider
September sky
Rain white cockatoo
Feeds on Chinese
pistachio tree
Mid-afternoon crimson
rosella cracking seed
kindly light
Magnolia buds
for the possum
little sweets
Swan family
beg a few crumbs yet
I have nothing
Neighbour parades her
new fancy clothes
how fragile her face
Swarming bees in wall
pest destroyer
an awesome silence
