Tiger Riding for Beginners

Traveling Poet Philosopher & Occasional Wiseacre

an egret flares
 to a dramatic landing
  in a sunny grass patch.

a muscular tree
 poses with limbs outstretched;
  shrubs are unimpressed.

twisted root piles
 stretch across the walkway,
  reaching like amoeba.

deep in winter,
 the blue water makes it
  Caribbean summer.

the sunny side
 of the mountain falls into
  a cloud’s shadow.

the last few leaves 
 tenaciously hang on
  into mid-winter.

even the small mountains
 hide their tops in the clouds:
  rainy winter day.

prayer placards 
 ring a Chinese banyan:
  weathered wishes hanging.

roots held up the wall;
 the wall supports the tree.
  now, they’re one & same.

the moon is hazy;
 whether it’s the clouds or
  my mind, I can’t say.