butterfly in the sun

sunlight
dancing on brittle leaves
end of winter

after the storm

how touching
to exist after the storm
chrysanthemum

~Basho

humble hut

humble hut–
with baby sparrows
underfoot

~Issa

to tangle or untangle

to tangle or untangle
the willow—
it’s up to the wind

~Chiyo-ni

Images: Desert Willow / Tucson, AZ / May 2012

green grass

green grass–
between the blades
the color of water

~Chiyo-ni (1703-1775)

images: Mormon tea / Tucson, AZ / May  2012

sunflowers

sunflowers
the tube of cadmium yellow
squeezed flat

~D. Claire Gallagher

images: Mexican tree sunflowers / Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum / March 2012

In my hut this spring

In my hut this spring,
there is nothing–
there is everything!

~Yamaguchi Sodo (1642-1716)

image: Hobo Kitty / Tucson, AZ / April 2012

going deeper

going deeper
and still deeper
the green mountains

~Santoka Taneda

arroyo

first light
spilling into the creek bed
desert poppies

image: Mexican gold poppy / Tucson, AZ / April 2012

forest

raindrops
the pitter-patter
of blue jays

~Jane Reichhold

image: Pinyon Jay / Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum / March 2012