excerpt from "Instruction Manual for Reincarnation"

end of story begins
at beginning of story:
birth-growth-old-goodbye.

while able to read poems -

keep eyes busy
keep ears busy
keep nose busy
keep hands busy
keep Universe busy.

at end of story -

become one with plot
become one with scenery
become one with actors
become one with theater
become one with director
become one with producer.

when credits roll -

no need for popcorn
no need for cotton candy
no need for soda pop
no need for chocolate peanuts
no need for trip to rest room.

in next life -

read poems
walk in mountains
swim in ocean
talk to animals
laugh at thunder storm -
relax!

(ji bo, 2009)

...........

squall line winds blow bold
keep monkeys like me indoors
treetops not so lucky...

(carlo, 2009)

...........

caterpillar eats flower
goes to sleep
blossoms as butterfly.

(haiku committee, 2008)

.........

when the young
attempt to leave
the nest -
let them go.

.........

old horse has bad leg
old tree has dead limbs
old dog has dim eyes
old house has flaky paint
old man has fading memory -
years disappear
like
drifting
clouds.


(neckbone, 2007)

.............