I have wished a bird would fly away,
And not sing by my house all day;
Have clapped my hands at him from the door
When it seemed as if I could bear no more.
The fault must partly have been in me.
The bird was not to blame for his key.
And of course there must be something wrong
In wanting to silence any song.
crisp leaves rattle in a gust,
but a chipmunk climbs in silence.
under dusky skies,
a temple emits droning chants
and golden light.
rocking boat,
splash heard behind --
spin to see... ripples.
seeking cicada
that drills my brain,
I find only a shell.
in the temple yard,
a bell clangs three times, and
vibrates beyond silence.
walking in rice stalk,
grasshoppers ping forward,
plink - plink - CRUNCH - plink...
insects chirp
under autumn skies; the
river runs silent.
Tiger Riding for Beginners 