Chrysanthemum
silence—monk
sips his morning tea.
~~~
Monks’ feet clomping
through icy dark,
drawing sweet water.
~~~
Old legs, still eager
for Yoshino’s
flowering slopes.
~~~
Not one traveller
braves this road—
autumn night.
~~~
Lips too chilled
for prattle—
autumn wind.
~~~
Awaiting snow,
poets in their cups
see lightning flash.
~~~
Year by year,
the monkey’s mask
reveals the monkey.
~~~
Autumn winds—
look, the chestnut
never more green.
—Basho
_______________________
—Medusa
What do you think is the secret of life? Send Medusa your "secrets of life" poems, art and/or photography by midnight tomorrow, Monday, October 29, and I'll send you a free copy of Kate Wells' new rattlechap, Spiral, or whatever other rattlechap you're missing. That's kathykieth@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726.
Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their POETRY, PHOTOS and ART, as well as announcements of Northern California poetry events, to kathykieth@hotmail.com (or snail ‘em to P.O. Box 762, Pollock Pines, CA 95726) for posting on this daily Snake blog. Rights remain with the poets. Previously-published poems are okay for Medusa’s Kitchen, as long as you own the rights. (Please cite publication.) Medusa cannot vouch for the moral fiber of other publications, contests, etc. that she lists, however, so submit to them at your own risk. For more info about the Snake Empire, including guidelines for submitting to or obtaining our publications, click on the link to the right of this column: Rattlesnake Press (rattlesnakepress.com).
