Winter Tanka

1)
if you need
to live insatiably
you'll need thorns
not leaves, for thorns
have no fear of winter

2)
i see stars
being born from your tears
and wonder how
your guarded grief would steer
our young tomorrow

3)
the glint
in the eyes
of a squirrel--
a bright new day
for the blessed ones


4)
a chorus
of whispers
still haunts--
time never moves
for the saxophone man