haiku

sleeparrives too latedeparts too soon

raspberry bushwith a niggle of rednessthat doesn't belong

fall colorscan sometimes includeblues and purples

yellowed cardsmeared ink through an old coffee stainmother's cornbread

not so hot today --clouds run interferencebetween sun and me

the man shaves his headreviving childhood memoriesfallen hair wet with tears

the overworked manpauses for an enjoyable mealof cobbler with ice cream

the preacher retreatsto his home behind the churchclosing the goddamn door

disillusioned actorholds his sullen expressionlong after 'cut'

'she'll be all right,'lied the father to his sonover-protectively

lionsterritorial to a faultstay and die

from his bed in the alleythe old man wishes on the shooting starsearching for hope

attached to the ceilingthe paper wasp nest hangs --friend or enemy?

stooped white-haired mansitting waiting for his ride --already dead

of all Wes's filmshis first is my favorite:Bottle Rocket

moving deliberatelywhite to green to red to blackto berry cobbler

hummingbird hoversfor a full thirty seconds --evening primrose

one pillow for his backanother for his feet -- the old manrelaxes on the couch

grass glistens at dawn --in the yard by the treelinea skunk digs for grubs

salt-stained baseball capmud-spattered in the drainage ditch --Korean War Vet