First Sighting

On grape hyacinth,
A hummingbird sips nectar,
An early breakfast.

Afternoon Respite

Sipping my coffee,
Eating a pumpkin muffin,
Basking in sunshine.

Do What?

To just be present
Surrendering to what is,
Doing sweet nothing!

Reading Ezra Bayda - Beyond Happiness

Spring Into Winter?

Ruby red rhodies,
Hundreds of flowers in bloom,
Snow in the forecast!

Sun Seekers

Petals opening,
Pink magnolia blossoms
Reaching for the sun.

Demorepublicrats

Government shutdown?
Politics of Washington
Where no one listens.

Ugly Ball

Watching basketball,
Final game of March Madness,
Worst I've ever seen!

Early Birds

5:40 a.m.
What woke me up so early?
"Gobble-gobble" songs.

Spring Morning

Breezy Saturday,
Sunshine breaking through the clouds,
Trillium in bloom.

April Fools Day

March gave us a bath.
Will April bring more sunshine?
First tulips blooming!

Caught

What blocks happiness?
When caught in the thinking mind,
Regretting your Past.


What blocks happiness?
When caught in the thinking mind,
Seeking the Future.

(More from Ezra Bayda in Beyond Happiness)

Accept Others (and Yourself)

Where do we all end?
Death -- the great equalizer.
Get over ourselves!

(Reading Guy Kawasaki's Enchantment, The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions)

Are You Happy?

What is happiness?
It's not what you are feeling,
Nor is it a goal.

Happiness starts with
generosity of heart,
And being present.

(Reading Ezra Bayda's Beyond Happiness)

Taking a Break

Through the window glass,
Looking across the river,
Bikers cruise the trail.

Tax Time

Working on taxes,
Plugging in all the numbers.
Getting a refund!

Little Boys on a Mission

My first boyhood friend
recalled childhood memories
I had forgotten.


At the age of four,
determined to get cookies,
Two boys ran to Grandma's.


Going the wrong way, 
They didn't get to Grandma's,
Neighbors caught them first.


What were they thinking?
Just to get Grandma's cookies,
Boys know what they want!

How were they punished?
To your room without dinner,
Which Mom brought later.

After sixty years,
Two "old boys" eat their dinner,
Thinking of cookies.

Rinpoche IV

Meditation is
non-judgmental awareness --
Watch your thoughts come and go.

More March Madness

Butler Bulldogs win!
Live for a Saturday game.
Can they win again?

Rinpoche III

Just notice your thoughts.
There are no good or bad thoughts,
there are only thoughts.

A Walk in the Sunshine

Narcissus in bloom,
Pink and red camellias,
Flowering delights!

Rinpoche II

The mind is active
like the ocean making waves,
Your thoughts just come up.

Birds of the Season

Turkeys gobbling,
Another sign of Springtime
Or Thanksgiving Day?

Birds Remembered

Robins are singing
Memories of long ago,
Beginning of Spring.

Round Ball Marathon

Watching "March Madness,"
more buzzer-beaters today,
And a few blow-outs.

March Round Ball

Basketball madness,
Tournament games have begun,
Who beats the buzzer?

More Signs of Spring

Light purple flowers,
Rhododendrons in full bloom,
Spring is on its way.

Hints of Spring

Through the window glass
Tree branches with rosy buds,
Pink blossoms next week!

On the Rise

River still rising,
Will it overflow its banks?
More rain on the way.

Stormy March

Rain blowing sideways,
Tree branches litter the streets,
Driving toward home.

End of Long Illness

Walking in the sun
Holding hands with my sweetheart,
Together at last.

Reunion After 55 Years

I received a note
from my first boyhood "best" friend,
Coming in two weeks!

Oregon Spring

Trees are blossoming,
Buds are bursting pink and white
While the rain keeps falling!

Gratitude Prayer

Thank you for this day,
Thank you for all that I love,
Thank you for my life.

Bedtime

I'm getting sleepy,
Haven't written a poem.
This is it today.

Life Lesson

Starting where you are,
not where you would like to be,
Gives your life meaning.

Daily Rituals

Repetitive acts . . .
Are they a waste of your time
Or your saving grace?

Neverending Noise

The sound in my head
constantly screams in my ears,
No silent moments.

Longing

Her cough lingers on,
No intimacy for weeks.
Missing our kisses.

Watching Oregon Art Beat

Hearing Robert Bly
read his poem reminds
Me of my boyhood home.

Early Morning

Five o'clock wake-up,
Train whistles in the distance,
Railroad reveille.

Tyranny of Time - III

What's left? "The present."
The present moment is now,
That instant of "now."

(Note:  See the last two haiku for reference)

Tyranny of Time - II

What is "the future"?
A thought passing through your mind,
Just an idea.

Tyranny of Time - I

What about "the past"?
The past is a memory,
Just an idea.

Rinpoche

Subject and object,
Dissolving the distinction --
Meditation's task.

Winter Lingers

No snow fall today,
but icy cold comes tonight.
Time to cover up!

Wonderland

Wet snow covers trees,
Branches stacked with white blankets,
Winter's last hurrah!

More Winter

Winter storm warning --
Snow flurries coming today,
A cold chill tonight.

Smile

Pink blossoming trees
Surprise me this cold morning,
Winter turns to Spring.

Where "Sin" Begins (reading K. Norris)

Our bad thoughts are real.
Check out any newspaper,
they lead to bad acts.

Listen

Whose voice do you hear?
A voice outside or within?
Listen to your own.

Over-used

Of all the phrases
"at the end of the day" is
annoying drivel.

February Opening

First signs of springtime,
the daffodils are blooming.
Crocuses are too!

Celebrate!

Happy Birthday lunch,
Eating Thai pumpkin curry.
One of life's pleasures.

Discerning

"We are not our thoughts."
Yet, take measure of your thoughts.
Thoughts come ... and thoughts go.

Visioning

First look and listen,
Listen to your mind and heart.
Hear your soul's clear voice.

Mother Love

Blinded by regret,
She does not hear the guilt-trips --
Manipulated.

Body Wisdom

To achieve balance,
Don't push against your body,
Just follow its lead.

Watch Your Words!

All of our complaints
At best are crap attractors.
Think before you speak!

Sleeping Life

Your dreams are your dreams.
Your snoring is your snoring.
They come ... and they go.

Waking Life

Your thoughts are your thoughts,
Your feelings are your feelings,
They come ... and they go.

Revolution?

Chaos in Egypt,
Protesters march in the streets,
No clear end in site.

Lost Poem

Forgotten haiku,
Nowhere to be found today,
Write one tomorrow.

Night Music

The sound of rain drops
Falling on the wooden deck,
Music for sleeping.

Who Gives A Shit (said Anita)

Super Bowl Sunday,
Packers against the Steelers,
May the best team win.

Reading "The Joy of Living"

Be an observer,Without interrupting thoughts.
Non-meditation.

Rest in awareness,
Give attention to your mind. 
Meditation. 

Reading "Acedia & me""

Unable to care,
Cannot feel bad about that.
Acedia's worst.

Boredom ... a blessing?
Time to be alone with God.
Pure and simple gift.

Thank You Note

Quote: Gratitude is
the memory of the heart.
-- Jean Baptiste Massieu

Cold Night

Woke at five nineteen,
the house was chilly and dark.
Quick, go back to sleep!

Second Month

February 1st:
A new month for new haiku, 
So write a poem!


In the waiting room
for cataract surgery,
new lens, clear vision.


Sitting in Starbucks
sipping my morning coffee,
Watching people rush.

One of Twelve?

Last day of the month:
Just one more haiku to write
... until tomorrow.

Interrupted Sleep

Awake about three
feeling like I need to pee.
Make this rhyme with glee.

Party Time

Went to a party,
Her birthday is same as mine.
Aquarian twins.

A Good Day to Be Alive

The day of my birth
in Minnesota winter,
Happy Birthday Todd!

Breakfast Moment

An orange-pink glow
on the eastern horizon,
Sunrise on the way.

Susan Retires

At our last meeting
we encircle her with love,
Blessing her new life.

The Wait

In the dark of night
Lying awake with the stars,
waiting for the light.

Favorite Day

On Sunday mornings
Some time for intimacy,
Otherwise, surprise!

Goodbye Arizona

Flying home again
Leaving the land of the sun.
Back to Oregon.

Wisdom Worth Remembering

Embrace resistance:
Just agree with it quickly
Then you can move on.

Love's Sweet Surprises

Watching her undress
is one of life's little joys,
Revealing beauty.

Life's Little Surprises

Desert oasis,
Aqua Caliente Park,
Unknown Tucson gem.

New Food Experience

Eating pork belly
after a mixed green salad.
Time for gelato!



Tucson's Best?

Noisy restaurant,
Two hundred people eating
Cafe Poco Cosa feast.

(Miss) Understanding?

You don't understand!
She's doing all that she can.
That's what we all do.

Sound of the Morning

Gila woodpecker
chirping outside our window.
Breakfast time, wake up!

Arizona Sunset

The sun's ochre glow
Bathes the western horizon
As birds fly to nest.

More Wisdom Worth Remembering

Lets open our hearts,

Celebrate community!
Conflicts melt away.

Who Laughed?

A comedian:
Is that what God truly is? 
The Cosmic Joker.

Poetic Wisdom

Speaking poetry
rather than "reading" poems
Connects heart and voice.

College Dream

Walking on campus
I lost the group I came with,
Never to be found.

Wide Awake

Awake in my bed
In the middle of the night,
When will sleep return?

Poetic Dream

Dreamt of Robert Bly,
Met him on the street last night,
Writing a poem.

What are you doing
on Saturday night I asked ...
Writing a poem.

Came to celebrate
Bill Stafford's birthday, he said,
Writing a poem.

So, read your poem
I said, share it with us now!
So that's what I did.

Happy Pasta Birthday!

Penne parmesan
Eaten at a birthday lunch,
Salad on the side.

What's in a Name

Strange introduction:
I'm Brooke and he is Salmon.
No wonder we laugh!

Football Finals

The Oregon Ducks
lost the big game in Phoenix,
Fans are sad but proud.

After the close game,
Ducks back home from the desert.
Can't wait 'til next year.

Slip-Sliding Away

Driving on black ice,
skating with cars on the road,
Sliding to a stop.

Life's Decisions

The pain of regret
never seems to go away,
Lacking forgiveness.

Road Spook

Driving through dense fog
Stoplights suddenly appear,
A ghost with red eyes.

Morning Complaint

A gray, cloudy day,
Hard to get going to work.
Do what the birds do!

Speaker of the House

"Not operable"
parts of the Constitution.
Read aloud . . .or cry?

Office Moment

View from my window,
Bright sunshine on the river.
Winter day surprise.

The 112th Congress

Passing the gavel
Politics remain the same.
Washington follies.

Therapy Tip

Practice mindfulness.
Just stop the soap opera
Playing in your head.

Relationship Challenge

 Empathy advice:
Listen closely, say something!
Birds sing the same song.

Favorite Day of the Week

Our Sunday mornings
begin with intimacy
And end with coffee.

2011 Haiku Challenge

Been thinking about writing one or more haiku every day for a year. Can I do it? Why do it? To at least have a moment or two during each day to be fully present ... enough to write a haiku at least.

Happy New Year! 

First day of the year,
Writing friends a long letter.
Next year, a haiku.