so called

these halls
are empty
dark

fewer novices
fewer monks

at last count: two monks
and one of them is tired

wait

there were a few more
so called monks
overseeing detention
of so called novices
caught pen-handed
writing
so called haiku

double robed haiku

morning bell rings
cold seeps in the windows
day of double robes

a monk's choice

a perfect prayer silence
  
   invaded

banging thudding
garbage cans flying
yells shouts
fists thrown high

stop prayer?

the tired monk walks
into the fray

Christmas Lights

lights left hanging
now just dark strands
coming free from the eaves
flapping against the house
as the cold front moves in

tracks

i)

first sound was the train
now there is just
white snow silence

ii)

mice tracks
tiny by the tree

rabbit tracks
big and bounding

fox tracks
tight on the hunting trail

monk tracks
weird robe swirls

on new year's day

some huddle
fearing Mayan math
resolving hurting and hung over

the tired monk
sink lingers
sips coffee and benedictine
drying towel sits ready
on robed left shoulder
pondering poems

late year early mornings

been out
double robed against the cold
coffee is good and hot

temple dog runs inside
settles in by the stove

quiet

just a few blanket rumbles
in the halls above