Poetry & Verse

2003-03-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

Waiting

In the middle of a long hallway,
Mother and son sit
on the familiar wooden bench,
waiting for the doctor to see him.

She Combs his hair
with her fingers and spit
and reminds him to sit up straight.

She gives herself a Certs
to freshen her breath,
and puts one on his tongue
to occupy his mouth.

She pulls from her purse
two notebooks and two government pens,
keeping one of each for herself
and giving the boy the other.

"Write a story for me," she said with a soft whisper.
"Okay," he said, swinging his dangling legs back and forth.

Before returning to the unfinished letter
intended for her mother,
she watches the four year old boy
as he scrawls make-believe letters of his own
and constructs a pretend story from his imagination.

"Mommy, I'm gonna write something just for you."

2003-02-28T00:06:00.000-08:00

Particular Scent

Your Baban's home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and green tea
with a faint smoky stream of incense burning
and a cleansing fragrance of tatami

Your Parent's home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and green tea
with miso soup simmering on the stove
and ikebana atop the tv

Your Aunt's home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and wealth
with a fragrance of imported furniture
and an old small dog in failing health

Your Brother's home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and Spaghetti O's
with koi tanks and small children in need of cleaning
and the crumbs from half-eaten Oreos

Your Sister's home has a particular scent
a mixture of brown rice and Earl Grey
with a faint perfume of Clearasil
and tiled floors made of Mexican clay

Your home has a particular scent
a mixture of steamed rice and bamboo
with a fresh aroma of andagi
and the sweet bouquet of you.

2002-12-26T05:50:00.000-08:00

The Weight

I died right the first time
Truth in word and scars
Knocked on a night sky
An echo shook the stars
Prayed with incense burning
Pockets full of charms
Made love to an angel
then she died in my arms

In silent moments yearning
Between golden whispers
and transient glances
I think of what might have been

I died right the first time
Wings and dreams disjointed
Infernal stones of blame are thrown
for drowning in a pool of strife
Extended index fingers pointed
to the charge of a wasted life.

2002-10-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Dream

Morning comes at an early hour
A cup of Joe and then a quick shower
Out the door into another world
Into another world

Traffic flows into congestion
Morning roll is half digested
Office rules and the cubical game
Names change but the faces stay the same
They all stay the same

Close and lock the door behind me
Innocence knows that they might find me
Stand in the kitchen with a bottle of blush
Listen to the music and feel the rush
O feel the rush

Scrub the day off in a hot shower
Darkness comes at an easy hour
Look into the mirror and I almost scream
Then I remember it's all just a dream
It's all just a dream.

2002-10-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

Severed

You got bored with me,
Cut the cord I see;
It's unimagineable,
yet knowing you,
it's understandable;

Time,
slipped by us both;
And so I know,
now,
How you got bored with me
and why you set me free;

So this is the end,
we are through;
No longer friends,
me and you;
And while you turn and walk away,
I slowly smile
and just have to say,
I was bored with you,
never thought you would get the clue;
I'm so glad that you set me free,
no longer have to think of you.

2002-09-24T13:46:00.000-07:00

Black Crow

A single black crow
Resting on a city wire
Dreams for fields of corn.

2002-09-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Flow

The bamboo is green
The lotus are pink
The waterfall flows
and kisses newfound stones

The bamboo is brown
The lotus are yellow
The waterfall flows
and shapes eager stones

The bamboo is hollow
The lotus are red
The waterfall flows
and parts distinguished stones

The bamboo is green
The lotus are white
The waterfall flows
and kisses newfound stones.

2002-09-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

October Tea

We sat upon tattered futons
with mismatched dishes on our table;
Using mended utensils
and faded bowls,
we spoke fondly of the past.

I watched your delicate hands
as you poured the last of the green tea;
We sipped slowly and savored,
cherishing what remains of this fallow time.

2002-09-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Let it Rain

The Sun rises in a hurry
The pain once hidden begins to show
The eyes and mind are blurry
and surrounding clouds begin to know

Spirit aches and body numb
from continually holding the Sun
What a comfort a hard rain would be
for the sky to burst along with me

A good storm fades wasted years
but rainbows promise comes no more
Raindrops will hide the pain and tears
Let it rain, let it pour.

2002-06-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Ballad of a Prince

I will save you from the dragon,
he is such an evil pest;
I shall slay him,
just like all the rest;
For you are my Princess,
in me you will have faith;
I promise to be kind,
I'm no Henry the Eighth;

Say you will always be true,
I don't own a guillotine;
Spend our lives together,
and I will make you my Queen;
And when you get old,
wrinkled, and all a saggin'
I will still love you,
and save you from that dragon.

2002-06-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

A Seed

Awakened by a dream,
I plant a seed,
Least I forget to cultivate in the morning;
I visualize this seed
Becoming a strong tree,
Branches reaching
To touch someone;
Blossoms
With a scent
Only I could love,
Perhaps the world would love;
Either way,
The fragrance just as sweet.

2002-06-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Windward Mourning

I have lost every photograph of her, I fear;
Some things you can't replace;
My memories are the only trace,
of a lady I held so dear;
She wore a plumeria behind her ear,
while dancing hula with flowing hands of grace;
Aloha always shined from her smiling face;
Why Kane'ohe was taken is still unclear,
like her own people, she too was overthrown;
Layer by layer she was ripped of her skin,
then gently in her grave she was laid;
While people stood laughing atop her tombstone,
a high school band sold benefit saimin;
Memories, like photographs, slowly fade.

2002-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

My Dis-ease

Queasy feeling,
deep down inside;
Tremors echo
in this body of mine;
O God,
here it comes again;
Dizziness
then darkness,
My deep sleep;

Massive earthquakes,
ground is still,
I am all that moves;
Body shakes
in all extremities,
in every direction;

Eyes spin,
unable to focus;
Seeing nothing
and nothing is seen;
Mouth clamps shut,
teeth dig deep;
Tongue-tied, blood flows upon my lips.

Thereafter
I awake;
Conscious yet cloudy;
Body weak,
drained of all energies;
Uncomfortable shame,
O great shame;
Eyes, they stare me down;
How I hate those eyes;
Refusing to leave,
wanting to assist;
I want nothing, but to return
to my deep sleep;
Forever.

2002-06-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

Tuna

When I met the Tuna,
she was drowning
in everyone's sea;
I offered her some self-respect,
and she swam on over to me;
But O my bucket is only half-full,
and one must dig deep for worms;
She has since returned to familiar oceans,
and swims in everyone's sea.

2002-05-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

A Decision

He had come to a decision
while walking on the fringe;
To make a deep incision,
His body he would impinge
upon a cold steel syringe;
Pain would be undone
after a little twinge;
Then warmth of the sun,
though his days would be done.

2002-05-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

Triolet for Alison

Cupid's arrow forever to miss,
until I saw her face;
Thought that it would always be like this,
Cupid's arrow forever to miss;
Then I felt the bliss
in her warm embrace;
Cupid's arrow forever to miss,
until I saw her face.

2002-05-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

Triolet Tears

Some may ask why I bother,
to love this alcoholic;
Is it worth all the pother?
Some may ask why I bother;
He is still my father!
Though I feel melancholic;
Some may ask why I bother,
to love this alcoholic.

2002-05-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

Tormented Tears

Submerged
in the hell of the past,
Satan holds me dear;
He dips my head into the sea,
only to pull me up
so I can breathe;
He takes me not,
demanding a fight;
Submission
has long been given,
Freely.

He throws my body
all through Hell,
like a boomerang, I return;
He seeks
a fight from me;
I surrender,
Freely.

He cuts my soul
with his teeth,
But never, O never,
digs in deep;
He slashes a vein,
blood flows,
but never the pain;
His desire,
a cry from me;
A tear slowly falls,
Freely.

2002-05-28T04:08:00.000-07:00

Contempory Kingdom

King Certainty,
powerful, was he;
Lost his Kingdom and his rule,
for Change had come;
Followers mourned,
still loyal and true;
For what Was,
was all they knew.

Prince Imagination,
on big white horse;
Handsome lad is he;
To think, to see,
understanding all;
An Individual.

"Hail, O Hail", the people cried.
"This be our new King."
Citizens gathered and asked of him,
"O what is to be?"
There he sat, looked about,
"INDECISION." he proclaimed.
"For I, King,
am Understanding,
though Doubt is my bride."

2002-05-28T04:03:00.000-07:00

Echoes from the Vale

Kona winds blow clouds of gray to the vale,
Where veins of a mountain cascade;
Alongside Kings and Queens were laid,
In the distance of a sacred trail;
Faint tune from a nightingale,
Only echoes of a serenade;
Songs of the valley fade,
As the clouds of gray prevail.

2002-05-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

Curbed Life

If you gaze into familiar eyes
of someone from your past,
let them be the first to speak;
And if they fail to do so,
allow them to be invisible.

If they offer food and drink,
gulp until your belly is full;
For they will walk away from you in disgust
whether you choose to eat or not.

If they happen to invite you into their home,
remember what home used to be like
before accepting their suggestion.

If they offer you employment,
show them your walking-stick
and remind them
that it's not a flute.

If they should accuse you
of not reaching expectations,
take no offense;
Their lecture is for themselves.
Smile instead,
and remind them of the seasons;
Reasure them
that Spring shall come again.
Say it with conviction,
as if you truly believed it.

2002-05-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

Penny-less

Run, run, run,
Penny be slim;
Instead of eating,
go to the gym;
Chances of obesity,
Penny beware;
Vicious laughter,
cold awful stares;

Television said,
you must be thin;
Future for Penny,
looks awful grim;
Nobody will love you
if you're not thin;
Looks more important,
than what's within;
Diet books,
do it this way or that;
Penny be thin!
Don't you dare be fat;

Skinny Penny,
refuses to eat;
Skinny Penny,
all bones and no meat;
She has finally done it,
Penny in a size five;
Probably would have rejoiced,
if only she were alive.

2002-05-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

An Angel Sleeps

In my dreams,
I see her sleeping
on a bed of material roses;
Pillowed petals yearn
for the softness of her lips
and fade beside the hue within her cheek;
Patterned stems thorn in envy
at her long and gentle lashes;
As a tear of dew
blossoms upon her lid
that only I can see,
I wonder if she dreams of me.

2002-05-28T03:42:00.000-07:00

Brother Whale

He is sick.
His time has come.
Knowing this, he swims to land.
An outer world
so different from his own.
I see him coming and go to his aid.
I sit with him along the shore.

He makes little movement
and utters not a sound.
Yet his eyes, O his eyes
say a million words.
I wipe the gritty sand from his massive head
and stroke his side
with the touch of a loving mother.

O Brother Whale,
you are not alone.
I am here
in your solitary death.

2002-05-28T03:40:00.000-07:00

Silence

Listen
before speaking a word;
Allow
divinities voices to be heard;
Discover
quiet joys within the womb;
Nurture
gift seeds to further bloom.

2002-05-28T03:38:00.000-07:00

Reflections

Sitting at home
in my favorite chair,
I glance towards the window
and see somebody there;
My heart starts to tremble,
who do I see?
It's only my reflection,
it is only me.

2002-05-28T03:36:00.000-07:00

Guilt

Guilt,
O deadly disease,
through my heart you burn;
In all interactions,
there you stand waiting;
Quick to enforce laws
yet to be written;
All decisions
determined;
Choice,
is not mine;
O terrible weight
upon my shoulders,
hang my head down low;
Guilt,
forever mine;
Unable to say,
"No!"

2002-05-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

Mouse

Mouse on a wheel,
assumes progress;
Despite what it may feel,
Mouse on a wheel;
Unaware of what is real,
further to digress;
Mouse on a wheel,
assumes progress.

2002-05-28T03:28:00.000-07:00

Windward Morning

Magnificent mountains
stand guard
over the Windward coast
and far beyond the ocean
.....................................a distant flower blooms
along the horizon
as calm bay waters
mirror the sky;
soft pastels of orange and blue

Morning trades
sweep clouds of white;
one by one
....................................scattering showers
wash the white sand
from my eyes
and satisfy every thirst.

2002-05-28T03:25:00.000-07:00

Map for a Friend

The road may bend
to your promised land;
This, my dear friend,
you must understand;

Search within your soul,
which path is for you;
Strive for your goal,
but always enjoy the view;

In the midst of a crossway,
you may find an obstruction;
You are seen by some as prey,
beware of their seduction;

You may very well fail
before you succeed;
Though you can prevail,
only if you proceed;

Don't worry who is to blame,
no time to be bitter;
Remember from where you came,
and never be a quitter;

Don't worry about the past,
O regrets, they can erode;
For your dreams remain steadfast,
on your journey along the road.

2002-05-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Procrastination

2002-05-28T03:22:00.000-07:00

A Chat With Grandma

One day in my younger years,
Grandma asked what I wanted to be;
I told her how I dreamed of a career
of one day being a disc-jockey;
With disappointment, she looked at me,
my decision she could not endorse;
But she felt she must speak free,
so she told me without sounding coarse,
"You're too big to ride a horse."

2002-05-28T03:20:00.000-07:00

Searching for Aloha (In Waikiki)

Directly from the airport
Tourists
Ride into Waikiki
Sucking complementary macadamia
From their teeth
In search of the Aloha Spirit.

Exiting beachfront hotel
Reaking of coconut oil
and donning His & Hers hot-pink floral wear
Sore thumbs
Walk in white sands
In search of the Aloha Spirit.

Lying on beachmats
Soaking in the Sun
Beef tomatoes turning red on a kitchen window sill
Drinking sherbet colored rum drinks
with pineapple and little umbrellas
In search of the Aloha Spirit.

Watching Hulahula girls
In clown-like make-up
Purple grass skirts sway
as coconut shells barely cover their breasts
Sacredness of the dance
is not visible
Nor is the Aloha Spirit.

The search continues...

2002-05-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Where lovers lived

Earth,
once a place
where lovers lived,
and dreamers
searched the skies;
Now just a star
that burns
and twinkles in the night;
A lonely star,
no eyes will ever see;
No life to influence,
nor wishes
to be made upon;
The lovers,
dreamers,
forever they are gone;
Only shadows of time.

2002-05-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

Icarian Woman

There was a woman named Marion,
she came from the land of Icarian;
Though not her time to give birth,
she no longer could withstand the girth;
So she demanded a cesarean.

2002-05-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

Opening my own Doors

God no longer answers prayer,
and Satan won't buy souls anymore;
It's not that He doesn't care,
but God no longer answers prayer;
I've got to do my share
to open my own damn door;
For God no longer answers prayer,
and Satan won't buy souls anymore.

2002-05-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

Book Untitled

O Little One,
a book untitled;
Pages blank,
yet numbered;
Without Introduction,
Preface unnecessary;
"THE END"
your only beginning;
Without binding,
though you are bound
to another World.

2002-05-28T03:04:00.000-07:00

Furry Little Beaver

Knew a little beaver quite furry,
She wanted a log in a hurry;
When she got all of the hardwood,
that she physically could,
She danced up and down with a flurry.

2002-05-28T03:03:00.000-07:00

The More

The more you scream and shout
the more I want to pull you to my ear
The more you cry
the more I want to taste your tears
The more you walk away
the more I want to wrap my arms around you
The more you open up
the more I want to come inside
The more sassy you become
the more I want to spank your ass
The more I see your eyes
the more I want to dive into them
The more you are hurt by others
the more I wonder why you let them in.