a flower petal
in my wine glass
garden party

sudden rain shower
rushing the cake indoors

children chased
dragon dancers
blasting firecrackers

a tourist in the gift shop
carefully counts his change

monotonous interpreter's voice
guest from Japan
falls asleep

emerging to traffic rush
the city roars its presence

at buffet supper
such a temptation
to go back again

no miracle today
a hostile wheel

the way seemed clear
still I double checked
Thank Goodness!

she whispers
"I'm . . . pregnant"

concrete guardrails
to approach
to the narrow bridge

seismic reinforcement
Opera House closed

all night convenience
store for beer and chips
clerk's bullet-proof cage

her first summer in the country
a warm egg

the smell of fresh coffee
in the early kitchen
hot rolls too

soldier - brother
returned from Vietnam

in a cool breeze
a yellow leaf
floats an unmarked path

the rustle of the wings
a grave in potter's field

clop-clop
a hackney is leaving
street lamps dimmer

a passing couple
their arms around each other

St. Valentine's Day
a fortune teller
lies

loud TV commercial
"here's your chance to look young always"

high school reunion -
enlarged breasts won
a huge diamond ring

that Escher design
going up or going down?

miracle stock market
an entrepreneur buys
second Mercedes

the expensive call girl
moves into a new town house

a powerful telescope
delivered to
peeping Tom

kids door-to-door
trying to sell magazines

"It's easy to switch"
a long distance company's
persistence

trolling for customers
high tech promises

pre-concert orchestra
montage of runs and trills
now - the oboe's pure "A"

standing ovation
his last concert

a young guitarist
peddling her demo
all songs about herself

narcissus
in his garden

orange koi
lipping the surface
of the old pond

first autumn in Kyoto
Oregonian monk

May 27, 1997 - July 26, 1997