Chestnut Vendor

Throwback to another century
	the chestnut vendor makes his way along
		the cold night streets, pushing his heavy cart
			crying "amaguri" -  chestnuts hot and sweet!

Cormorant Fishers

Boats lit with lanterns, the skilled fishermen
	work lines tied to the rings around their necks
		keeping the birds from swallowing their catch
			black birds, black river
				moonless winter night

The Temple at Midorogaike

A great carp - blue and white
	finning in the temple pool
		"How old?"  I ask. The monk just smiles and holds
			his hands a foot apart. "When I came here
				a young man, sixty years ago, already this big."

Obon Festival at Daitokuji

The festival of souls - let's make them laugh
	who knows how grim the afterlife might be
  	and so these serious monks are busy painting
    	on paper lanterns the craziest cartoons!

The Buddha's Feet

At Nara, a great statue of the Buddha
	Maitreya huge by human standards
		the toes immense, yet just a miniature
			when I consider how the Buddha's footsteps
				span galaxies, reach out across the universe