Words forgotten
But the old man keeps humming
The song from childhood.

School vacation -
Every day so much to learn
About heavy snowfalls.

The snow is level with
The top step of the porch.
Summer cabin.

On the spruce’s paw
Shaking off the snow leopard
The crow alights.

Autumn evening –
The shelves are crammed with books
Covered in dust…

Stuck in taffic jam.
A white cloud floats above
Nonchalantly.

I open the fist:
There you are, my buddha
Moonlight on the palm.

Wind of spring…
Dancing on the clothes-pegs
The old woman’s skirt.

Night blizzard,
Silently we stand by the window
Flying with snow.

The closed fist
Leaps onto the open palm –
Basho for the deaf.

= Translated by the author =