Tiger Riding for Beginners

Traveling Poet Philosopher & Occasional Wiseacre

under dark clouds;
 yon hills at once bombarded 
  with light- & rainbands.

branches hang strong
 against the dense clusters
  of yellow trumpets.

“turn left to go right”:
 branches sweep around in arcs,
  is the tree moving?

sitting on a rock,
 feet dangling in the stream, 
  thwarting summer heat.

the bushy tree
 in the temple wall isn't so
  claustrophobic as I.

people sit in sand,
 and look to the water --
  ignoring dark clouds.

from valley shadow,
 the sun-warmed mountain
  glows more brightly.

across the lake,
 two rainbows arch skyward:
  one, a faint echo.

poets & artists
 sit in ornate houseboats,
  translating the clouds.

grape tendrils
 encased in crystalline frost.
  blows into cupped palms.