Why? Starlight makes it possible. I wouldn’t be here, bleeding on the beach otherwise. Falling on one’s sword isn’t as easy as it looks. It goes through my side and misses everything but too many desserts. Starlight’s mercy gives me signal way out here. Grants me “911” before I pass out to the tangy smell…
POPO 2026 Day 28
Primary election day, where hope stirs,a giant wakes, with desireto scramble up from wallow of stressto cast veils of lies aside fromprofessional politicians beholdento their overlord paymasters. Primary election day, where we holdour breaths, trusting our state kinto understand what’s at stake,to get to the polls, to cast their votes.Hand to hand, heart to heart,to…
The Lost Ringmaster
The Lost Ringmaster Shirtless, riding across a golf courseon a red elephant, crowds turn to stareat the man with a chest that has no hair. He’s gone missing from the circus as hismount’s tetched with mad louse disease;still looking punched and fit, i.e. pleased. Within or without the ring, his fixed smirkrepresents the mien of…
POPO 2026 Day 27
AUGUST Absolute promise of softeningUnder kinder sunGathering empathy as it travelsUkulele sunsets coolerSummer by month’s end wanedTowards Autumn’s harvest days.
amulet (haibun)
Amulet Tonight was storytime at the library. I asked granddaughter to write my name tag for me and she knew every letter. Besides their carpet letter squares to sit on, the children chose from brightly colored scarves for one of the activities. She chose purple, her mother chose orange, and she chose neon yellow for…
POPO 2026 Day 26
When I go, make me a tree.Inject my spirit into tall oakvacated by transcended bodhisattva.I’ll stay, I promise to continuethe watch, witnessing magnificencethrough gift of sentienceon this plane.I’ll be still, except for playful leavesand muddy feet. Growingever so slowly, taking it all in;remembering untilsacred baton is passed.
