miles away from
the earthquake and tsunami*
even the barn roof
seems to be listing
towards the unknown


*Refers to the devastating 8.8 earthquake in Chile and the subsequent tsunami warnings that were issued on Feb 27th.  For the latest updates and/or to contribute to the relief effort, I've included a link to the American Red Cross.  (Click on the text in line 2 of the tanka.)


Periodically, I check the links to see that each one is still accessible and accurate.  Since I posted this item, other disaster areas in the US are now listed on the first page.  These include the severe flooding in New Jersey and the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota.

everything
I had to do
cleared from the calendar
circling the clouds
the flight of a red-tailed hawk

stalking deer along
the tanglevine trail
the man in the yellow jacket
sends a cell phone picture
to his girlfriend

past a remnant
of old route 66
the empty hour glass
of the chrysler
water tower

This tanka is for my nephew, Logan, who attends the Deer Creek Middle School. 

in a valley
protected from the wind
a bluebird's insistence
that today
is the first day of spring

with their elbows
bent like coat hangers
the dancing couple
hold each other up
through another set

everyone's asleep
in the shoebox town
except for the cut-out moon
and a child's glittering
of stars

so many figures
shaped like hands
the bird spirits
woven into
a navajo rug

oil paintings

of whaling ships

stacked in the doorway

of a diner

where could they be

going from here

because of the hour
and the phone's persistent ring
I crawl out of my sleep
with each foot
in the wrong shoe