Tapping Woodpeckers

Cucumber Sandwiches A renku composed May 2002 by Tapping Woodpeckers

sun and wind in fresh-laundered shirts we set out walking cucumber sandwiches wrapped in plastic lined up in front of the Beverly Hills deli a dozen Harleys caught on the windshield monarch butterflies moon-viewing hot toddy steam wafts from the mug the kiss interrupted by a sudden giggle on her nose a single flake first snow ocean microphone snatch of humpback song opera lover his sister turns down the radio volume several eggs in the nest the plover stages an injury a rustling in the wild grass sweet alyssum stars come out one by one the smell of fresh turned earth

kitsutsuki no
hashira wo tataku
sumai kana

(from pg. 153, "The Essential Basho", translations by Sam Hamill, Shambhala Productions, 1998. ISBN: 1-57062-282-5)