the Buddha greets an older moon winter wind Issa enlightenment a minor affair— says one thin wind me oh, jesus christ— what the hell would he know barely past thirty me

cherry blossoms the gentle light of memory Basho still days winter raindrops those days me

amorous cat, alas you too must yowl with your love...  or even worse, without! Basho tomorrow— there is a chance of snow me

moon in the cold ― only my own footsteps on the bridge         Tan Taigi blooming sound of camellia— on snowy night me

winter journey even dreams grow quiet Basho winter of winters your winter lost me

The deeper the winter, sentences break— your majesty

Time lapse of a cherry plum waking up.

softly gently --     cold weather creeps     into Kyoto Issa Kobayashi never asked— winter me

walking on— a road of pear blossoms with an old cat

snow covered family graves still loved Issa father— mother’s vacant room an orphan now me

snowy night footprints vanish at the gate Buson old man next door— baseball on the radio sunlit again today me

dusk dead cats on the windowsill so sorry

winter rain begins alone I keep going my name in the mist Basho winter night a stray dog sharing my path Issa heavy snowing nowhere to land white bird me

deep winter the old well remembers water Basho bright spring the old nest remembering songs me

Sunday— the sky at rest, only worry kneels

my cats gone before— they’ll come to meet me; not in winter

snowfall plum blossoms wait beneath Buson old person, once a man old person, once a woman plum blossoms me

hidden diary ink darkens where your name repeats Akari what could I not forget but your love— wild winter wind me