10 Haiku

I feel the billow

of him passing on the path—

a moonlit jogger

A lava sunrise

spreading over hazy hills—

open book unread

A huge white rock moon

above squalling clouds of gulls

like swirling ashes

*

Under grey dome skies—

the hiss of unseen traffic,

faint twitter of birds

Speeding morning train—

flashing between the buildings

the sun stings my eyes

Just over my head

gulls circle and screech and leave

a scent of the sea

*

Yellow canoe moon

bright in a blue satin dusk—

a smile over us

Logs on a hillside—

at first glance homeless people

sprawled in the moonlight

Feeling the thick pulse

of a jet in the twilight—

bright as a planet

*

Bare tree like a cloud,

grey against tall evergreens—

such a dry winter

.

Rat Man Blues

In the mirror

I saw my face

I saw a rat man

In a fat man’s place

I didn’t doubt it

Or try to hide

I saw it surely

As I’m gonna die

What was the answer?

Who was to blame?

Is this my fate?

So I went searching

For some advice

I swear I felt

Like some tumbling dice

I saw the rat men

Living on the street

I’ve got to tell you

God it frightened me

What was the answer?

Who was to blame

For such a fate?

I asked a rat man

What he’s gonna do

Now that the fat man

Has taken all he’s due

He told me Brother

I’ve got to wait

I’ve got no allies

And it’s getting late

I didn’t answer

What could I say?

I saw my fate

.