Mid-January Haiku

neighbor’s house is dark
maybe out for a dinner

or at a friend’s house 

mid-january 

some christmas lights are still on

holding on to joy

it’s been twenty years

since she died so needlessly 

a drink in her honor

Noren Curtains

Noren curtains are often seen in Japan in places of business and in homes. For businesses, they’re hung outside to indicate that they are open and they help to dress things up outside by providing a little color. Both businesses and homes use them to provide some privacy and it’s said that Noren curtains give protection from bad spirits that may be circulating about. We can all use some more protection from those guys. The only spirits I want in my house besides friendly ones, are the ones that come in bottles and have names like Jack Daniels or Jim Beam.

An Angry Sea

an angry sea 

takes its wrath

on the beach 

sometimes it caresses it 

gently like a lover

but not tonight 

It’s not a night 

where I’d want 

to be at sea

wind whipped waves

crashing 

ship groaning 

up and down 

across the sea

a crazed rollercoaster 

meanwhile…

back on shore

beach umbrellas 

carelessly left up 

take off 

into the darkness

of the sky

like on 24 Left

at LAX

powered by jet winds

New Year’s Haiku

it’s a new year
during daylight, same sun

at night, same moon

january snow 

just shoveled- resting

look outside- snowing again

snow crunching

underfoot, under tires

birds looking for food

Resolutions

Resolutions. They go down good with that vodka but they turn out like that pick-up from last night. They go from a foggy alcohol induced 9 around 2 a.m. to a 4 or 5 on a good day in the harsh morning light. You probably do too. Diet? Lose that twenty pounds you’ve been meaning to? Stop smoking? Sure, no problem. Look, nothing is going to change overnight so don't put that unnecessary pressure on yourself. You don't want to start the new year feeling like a loser. That’ll make you eat and smoke more right? New Year’s resolutions made with an alcohol soaked brain or otherwise are a complete waste of time, so you might want to hold off on buying that gym membership you won’t use.