Old Risu's Toe Nails
361 - 400


351. All new blossoms
Sprout about the
Garden Buddha.

352. Where is idleness
And forgotten solitude
As the days grow shorter
Along with my wakefulness?
Sleep is so elusive.

353. Spring has come
Here and now.
So many miles.

354. Morning sunrise
As my day ends; sleepy.
Backwards living.

355. So few visitors
To this old temple.
Creaks and groans
Only from walls and floor.

356. Gazing at flowers
Half replanted pots.
Wrens return.

357. Swallows stop
By the lake in Spring.
Watching priests.

358. Blistering winds,
Swirl under eaves,
Rattle shades.

359. Climbing mind mountains
On that other shore,
Leaving the floating world behind,
Watching clouds being born.

360. Evening shadows
Imitate many things
As I half nap.

361. Beautiful moon.
Peace's handmaiden here
Lightens the mind.

362. Silent blossoms.
Wind scattered souls.
Twilight hour.
Catching stars.

363. After forty six years
Happiness entered my heart.
How long had my other half
Waited at the same time?
(4/10/01) (for Nita)

364. Midnight sitting
Backwards old priest
Laughing inside.

365. Each gate a miracle
Tempting one to peek.
Yet on my long traveled road
I am content with
The one gate to home.

366. So many blossoms
I miss viewing now;
Time's flown.

367. Frog and cicada
Song duel night again.
Flies hiss angrily.

368. No room for shadows
In this small temple.
Congregation
Of atoms.

369. Candles and lanterns
Round as I sit now
Casting dreams.

370. Even insects sleep
This cold Winter night.
Nary a fur coat.

371. Worn out old man
Happiest of priests.
As each night falls
More dead than alive.

372. Darkness waits.
Favorite sitting time
When quiet descends.

373. Late at night
I pondered moonbeams
Ever awakened.

374. Up or down I
Still stand or sit
As is my whim.

375. Out of dead ash,
Black as the night,
A laughing priest.

376. Last Spring frost
Catches me thinking
Of old dreams
And older faces.

377. Banishing myself,
No hard task there,
Just the going.

378. Some old poems
Keep me going tonight.
Vanishing hours.

379. Gazing at mountains.
Where are you now friend?
Opening or closing.

380. Breeze swept room.
Sitting for a few moments.
Pen and tea, ah ......

381. Plenty left yet
For you and me in twilight
Holding hands.
(4/11/01) (for Nita)

382. Gong echoing,
Incense smoke coiling,
Rapt old priest.

383. A quiet night.
Opening the gate so
Moon may smile.

384. Night walking. I
Startle a lone hare
Quietly grazing.

385. Skinny young willow,
Nary a bud in sight still,
Dreaming of jade leaves
And bird songs.

386. Always sleeping late
In this backwards life
I woke to afternoon heat
As the sun began to fade.

387. Nothing to think about
Just sitting and writing most nights.
I can bear the years
Better these days.

388. One old half dead lotus
And one new bloom
Clinging to a mountain puddle
Blissfully just living.

389. A riot of new flower blossoms
Overwhelms us all at once.
Relaxing with tea
They become old friends.

390. When you ask your questions
It's the same moon that laughs at us.
Perhaps in a few years
It will only smile a little.

391. A cup of sake before breakfast.
What a day this will be.
The house already warm
No rain in sight.

392. The same as ever
Bed covers a mess.
I stumble into the kitchen
Looking for anything to revive me.

393. The park's formal gardens
Call to me, "why such a stranger?"
"Time and age," I say to no one
And start off to visit.

394. Day to day to day
Each much the same
Until a loon calls
Or the stars come out.

395. A single leaf
Tumbles in the door.
If it wants a traveling companion
Don't look to me.

396. My chi is strong
But my back, oh!
My mind may be at peace
But muscles another story.

397. The moon shines
Wherever I go.
My eyes reflecting
That perfect face.

398. Moon in both eyes,
Mind reaching outward.
Crossing the dark river
I can laugh out loud.

399. My sleepy gaze
From under the eaves.
Firefly dancing.

400. Just like the moon
I never truly sleep.
The soft firs
Mark both our passing.

A few nice poems for a lazy Sunday afternoon or evening. T.S.
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