FIRST HAIKU
Early plum blossoms
On the streets of North Oakland
Announce the new year
*
BART BENCH HAIKU
(downtown Oakland)
August 21: First Signs
The stench of urine,
A worn-out pair of trousers,
A tattered mattress
August 28
I saw him Friday
Asleep on the bench outside
The 19th-Street BART
Thursday there were three
Smoking their first cigarette
On the concrete bench
September 20
As summer ended,
The small cement bench became
A nightly campground
October 3 / Mail Call on the Bench
This morning I saw
A large padded envelope:
Two names, no address
October 12
As nights grow colder
The bench sleeper moves closer
To the dirty wall
*
R.I.P. CHAUNCEY BAILEY
murdered on the streets of Oakland 8/2/07
Had to cross the street
To avoid the police cars
On my way to work
Behind yellow tape
He lay under a white tarp
His feet sticking out
Leaning on a car
An officer interviewed
An old Asian man
"Did you see someone
Approach the victim and shoot?
Which way did he run?"
I pass this corner
On my way from the BART train
Almost every day
A nice neighborhood
Friendly senior citizens
No sign of danger
Suddenly, scary
Downtown - and in broad daylight
Murderers live here
The next day, a shrine
Teddy bear, candles, flowers
"You are in our hearts"
*
60 YEARS LATER / AFTER THE INTERNMENT CAMPS
They were our neighbors
Torn from our community
How could this happen
How could this happen
Nurseries and barber shops
Sold at bargain rates
Sold at bargain rates
"Please, take the horse and chickens"
And the fields left fallow
And the fields left fallow
Crying for children's laughter
Young lovers' meeting
Young lovers meeting
Near barbed wire, guard towers
Boredom and hot dust
Boredom and hot dust
Faded memories. At last
Soft voices speaking
Soft voices speaking
To those who did not witness
Utter disbelief
Utter disbelief
It will not happen this time
They are our neighbors
*
FOR RICHARD SEGASTURE 1940-2007
Thanksgiving turkey
For transplants far from their homes
Family of friends
Burgers, fries, milk shakes
A MacDonald's banquet on
A student budget
You gave us three plants
After more than 30 years
They're still blossoming
In Arizona
You showed us desert gardens
Made one of your own
Thanks for the postcards
And painting our living room
Hard to say good by
For Friends Leaving for Phoenix
(written for the Segastures when they left California)
Without your mirror
Of our shared memories
Are they/are we real?
*
LEARNING TO SHAVE
for Sean; Father Teaching Son
A nick on the jaw
The razor's edge of manhood
Along the bloodline