Sky and earth

Sky and earth

Sky and earth search
for likeness in each other.

The blue sky sees itself
in the vast sea;
the roaming clouds appear
to be fish in the deep green,
which reminds them that
they are born twins,
separated by God to do their unique
duty in the opposite world.

Sometimes, lilac clouds in the sky
meet the horizon and cheer
the gloom on the earth.

In the swirl of darkness and light
in each other, we learn to capture
the wisdom to discern the difference
between beauty and ugliness.

©Byung A. Fallgren

This Old Lilac

This Old Lilac

You've grown like the old lady.
She began you from a sapling,
one spring long ago.
Now, you think you are done,
despite the many branches.
the gnarled arms, dried, some broken
by the wicked wind.
A few signs of new life at the root;
eager to renew; with bout you doubt.

Now and then you remember the days
you were a robust beauty, pink blossoms
with a sea of aromas.

One thing you don't like even then--
the big orange butterfly and her caterpillars
that devour the leaves until they
withered and died.
the summer days hooligans.

Despite all that, you always sprang green in spring
and bloom, scent the air in the whole neighborhood
like a soul for the world.

You long to do so in the upcoming season.
And then at the end of spring,
you weep, defenseless against the invaders.
But worry not. your mama is watching over you.
She is armed with pepper spray.

The butterfly has a sharp sense of
its power, which surely burns the lips
of the caterpillars. Isn't that great?
You and I still have many springs to come,
as Mother Nature smiles upon us.

©Byung A. Fallgren




Illusion

Illusion

Wile typing at dawn, I see, in my peripheral
vision, something stirs in the dark doorway
and drag itself toward my desk. Charlie?
I peer under my desk; seeing nothing, I sigh;
the cat's been gone for years now.

On the back porch, I gaze at the sky;
a head of a dragone looms over the cloud
and stares at me before vanishing.
It looks so real; my heart is still jumping.

I saw, in the store, my neighbor. when
I'm about to greet her, she shoots a leery
eyes and turn. What did I do? I want to
poke her head, but I just stared. all that
morning, the mad eyes stuck in my mind,
like a millions of maggots.

Later that afternoon, she sat on the porch
alone, drinking coffee. I sauntered over.
She says, "Come, sit."
Grabbing a chair, I studdy her smile and
noticed a swallon sty in her eye smearing her smile.
I laugh; the illusional day!
We chat for a while, as the ladies in gray.

© Byung A. Fallgren

The Empty House

The Empty House

There used to be a sign "Welcome"
outside of the front door, now gone;
the weathered garage door, with a
broken-glass hole, through which
a lonely ghost to stare at the familiar sign,
propped outside the door to the neighbor;
the ghost wonders, if no one comes, will
they also move away?

A counselor would say, "Reach out."
A wise one said, "Treat others as you would
like them do for you." If you want them to visite
you, do it yourself first. It should be mutual,
to be more going and enjoyable.

--Byung A. Fallgren