Forgotten

Where is that poem?
Did I write it or did I not?
That is the question.

Life Goes On

Back at work today,
Returning calls, catching up.
Hard to concentrate.

Yesterday's News

Newspaper headline:
"Always listen to your mom."
Will I hear her now?

A Day Without Her

On this Mother's Day,
The day of my mother's birth,
No mother to call.

Wondering

As my brother drives,
We talk about what comes next.
Life without mother.

Celebrating Mother

A beautiful day,
We bury Mom with her kin,
Now she rests in peace.

At the Funeral Home

My brother and I
Look at Mom in the casket,
Together, we weep.

Remembering

Brother and sister
tell stories of our mother,
Remember her life.

Almost Home

Out the plane window,
"The Land of 10,000 Lakes" --
Minnesota home.

The Day After

Packing to go home
for my mother's funeral,
Feeling waves of grief.

May Day

The first day of May,
The last day of mother's life,
She died this morning.

Mother's Dying

Her heartbeat is strong,
Her breathing is getting slower,
Not much longer left.

Vigil

I called my brother,
He says mother is sleeping,
Not many words left.

Mother's Wish

He reads her the Psalms,
She asked to sing old church hymns,
Last days of her life.

A Brother's Tears

As my brother speaks
I hear the grief in his voice,
Our mother near death.

Mother's Last Days

Mother lays dying
In her nursing home bed now.
Waiting for last breath.

Oregon Spring

Hailstones pelt the car,
Followed by a big downpour --
Oregon Spring time.

High School Church Choir

It's Easter Sunday,
Sunrise service memories,
Sing Hallelujah!

Long Awaited

Sunshine ... finally!
Off to Saturday Market
to bring home veggies.

85 Years is Enough Life

My brother called me,
Saying that Mom is dying.
She told him "I'm glad."

Called to talk with Mom,
She said she's ready to go
When her last breath comes.

Said "I love you Mom"
And she said "I love you Todd."
Perhaps our last words.

What's for Lunch?

Ate a bowl of soup,
Chicken potato curry,
A great tasting lunch.

Dreamland

What does this dream mean?
Two woman friends stole my house
And held an art sale.


Caught them in the act,
Warned them not to sell my stuff,
And watch out for thieves.


Don't know what happened
because I woke up early
To write this poem.

Correct Diagnosis?

Back to the doctor
to diagnosis the fevers,
Caused by rash on leg?


Antibiotics
take on the skin infection
From the inside out.

Unknowns

Another fever
last night after a good day,
Time for the doctor?

Cornucopia

Out for a burger
and french fries with my sweetie,
Feel nearly normal.

Night Sweat

Spiked a night fever,
Today muscle aches and pain,
Go soak in the tub!

Where to next?

Taking our picture
to renew a lapsed passport,
Make some travel plans!

An Overdue Honor

Eighty-nine years old,
An American hero,
Honored peacemaker.

Edgar Peara Receives French Legion of Honor, April 14, 2011

Let It Be

That awareness heals
is a fundamental truth,
Welcome in what is.

Reading Ezra Bayda - Beyond Happiness

On the way to the Post Office

A shiny penny
in the middle of the street,
Who will pick it up?

The Point

Reside in what is,
The point is to be aware,
Be fully present.

Reading Ezra Bayda - Beyond Happiness

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.