Mangrove Kong [Haiku]

a young monkey
 king kongs through a forest
  of aerial roots. 

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes [w/ Audio]

I've known rivers:
 I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
 I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
 I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
 I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
 Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Cast Nets [Free Verse]

One foot in the river.
 One foot on the shore.
  Both feet sunk in the mud.

The fisherman casts his net
   with perfect flick and spin,
 muck extruding between toes.

The sling is the one quick
   part of the movement:
quick, but unrushed.

The net is hauled back,
   slowly and methodically,
 pressing out excess water
   while offering no escape route.

How many casts per day?

As many as are necessary.

There are other fishers,
   out on languidly rocking boats,
 casting out in the river.

And in rivers everywhere:

   in the Mekong,
   the Amazon,
   the Euphrates,
   and the Mississippi Delta.

Everywhere, they are casting.

Tagore Looms [Haiku]

Tagore looms,
wind-swept & erudite,
in mind & presence.

Prow Point [Haiku]

drifting downstream,
the prow points our way
to open sea.

Crocodile Hunter [Senryū]

at mangrove’s edge:
a croc, mouth agape.
lazy hunter?

Tiger Stripe [Free Verse]

When setting sunlight warms 
silvery tree trunks &
mangrove reeds,
and they alternate with
deep shadows,
I finally understand
the tiger’s camouflage.

Jade Hills [Haiku]

clouds lift
to reveal jade hills:
Tah-Dahhhh!

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll [w/ Audio]

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
 All mimsy were the borogoves,
    And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
   The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
 Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
    The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
   Long time the manxome foe he sought --
 So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
    And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
   The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
 Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
    And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
   The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
 He left it dead, and with its head
    He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
   Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
 O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
    He chortled in his joy. 

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
   Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
    And the mome raths outgrabe.

Above the City [Haiku]

pleasant summer day:
 city-dwellers look up,
  and watch clouds drift.