The Narrow Road to the Far Conference II

The scholar regrets
his optimistic abstract -
typing on the train.

The Narrow Road to the Far Conference I

Full of spring urges
animals migrate homewards:
scholars gathering.

On Unexpected Urban Wildlife

Spilling orange light
across the black quadrangle -
a fox at midnight.

On Wintery Debates

Fogging the windows:
scholarly exhalations
hide the outside world.

On Working Well

Writing, re-writing.
Hammered out from a blank sheet -
a bright copper bowl.

On the Shortness of Days

Slanting winter sun.
Weathered college stone and slate -
half shadow, half light.

On Forgetting and Surprise

Folded paper frog.
On its belly, characters -
forgotten haiku!

On the Last Lecture of the Week

Friday afternoon.
PowerPoint slides fade away
to a pure white screen.

On Returning Home Late

Quiet city night.
The lamps of insomniacs
light my way to bed.

On Traces from the Past

Sepia on white
memories of past chapters:
old coffee-mug rings.