The Former Bird Lady of Queen’s Surf

My maternal grandmother often went to Queen’s SurfWhere she’d sit and feed the birds They recognized her and would flock … More

The Friendly Stranger in the 1974 Black Mercury Marquis

When he stepped out of his carI stood still in Mānoa Shopping CenterI thought he was Tom SelleckBut on second … More

Write Like H E Double Hockey Sticks

If you want to tell today’s plain factYou’d best record it right awayBefore it’s blinded and bewildered by timeTurns into … More

Do Them Part

Someone wake him before he dreams of her againHe sees them stroll the shore with pant leg cuffs rolled upTo … More

When life gives you lemons

I have a cousin who once lived in Oakland, CaliforniaWhere she had a magic lemon tree in her backyard With … More

Some of It’s My Story

So, Chris, I’ve been thinking about the story you told me yesterday. I hope das good news. Oh, of course … More

Plan C

When one door slams shut . . .So where’s that other door to open upon possibilities?And there’s no window to … More

A Self-Effacing Beauty

Not just another pretty faceOr boasting of looks other women should mimicTaught at a young age to value nothing by … More

Mo’ Bettah

In Hawai‘i we might say“This one mo’ bettah than that one” for, say, a flavor of shave ice,and perhaps, “This … More

Gordon Lightfoot Rose

Those weren’t soft footstepsTip-toeing up the stairsWhen Gordon Lightfoot took offJumped the last jet planeTo rise whole and healedFar above … More

Life Is Pieces

My father swinging a pickaxe rhythmicallyUp over his head and slamming it downThe point piercing hard red clayBreaking it all … More

Madison WI

It’s time to bagLeft over long underwearUndershirt and sweater layersShed it all like snakeskinPeel yourself right downTo that hungry pale … More

Honolulu Passing

My city takes place before meEvery day of my lifeA show me and tell meI have a hard time rememberingCan’t … More

Saved and Spent, Saved and Spent

As the wave laps outOver the pane of sandThe moon reflects momentarilyPerfect and round mirrored There is a soundAfter the … More

Love Lost

The last act of taut bodiesLearning only love’s strain Some miscomprehensionIn the dark aftermath They count starsTwinkling indifference From a … More

What’s in a Name?

         His parents had met at an estate auction, and it had been love at first sight. Both were passionate antique … More

Books Write You Write Books

You think of your life as a library.  It’s a big one, maybe not the size of the warehouse in Raiders … More

Catching Up

I had a pretty lousy childhood, but my adulthood has been pretty good so far if you really want to … More

From Flames

Can smell the fireand the watersometimes imagineif water has a smellthat remnant steamy scentof memories Never cared for the way … More

My Tiny History Here

I wonderIf the moon impartsA four billion year oldHistory lessonDo I miss any instructionAsleep most times belowUnable to knowWhat wisdom … More