A Haiku for U

 We are back in the States now, well Vancouver anyways which feels like the the States to me (apologies to Canadian readers). I've been wanting to write about the last foreign leg of our trip, Japan, but my thoughts have not coalesced and I still feel very ambiguous about my experience. Therefore I have reached deep into my creative well to fish for meaning and what better way to try to crack this particular nut then with a few haiku. As some of you probably remember from 6th grade, a haiku is a 3 stance poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. It should have two images which are connected by a "cutting" verse. It also should have some, usually oblique, reference to one of the four seasons. Ok here goes....

 On the long hot train

 A crowd of people stare at phones

Alone in wanting

Light on wet pavement 

 Inside the itame waits 

 Sake warms the heart

Behind her face mask

The geishas young daughter sits

 Safe from all evil

Alone in the street

 He waits for the changing light

 Wind blown dry leaves dance

OK that was embarrassing! I hope I have not diminished my audience too much. Actually it felt good to write the poems and somehow I feel a bit closer to my thoughts now. Thanks for your patience.