We are masks, for the faceless; we are markers, for the unknown. I build me, as eyes open; I absorb me, as curtains close. As a word, proclaims a meaning; so the conscious, proclaims the soul. #sijo

Evening drips, to so-called morning; night’s alias, before the sunrise. My anger, is at nothing; so I rail at God, because he won’t get mad. Ugliness, erupts in me like a vine; and I hide my face, from the night sky. #sijo

Old habits, recapture the corners; ambushing instants, retreating at thought. Discipline, flickers to indolence; shrugging off failings, in wordy remonstrance. “Hypocrite”, I self-charge with sanctimony; knowing that too, for an excuse. #sijo

The true war, is not between nations; though their conflicts, oft serve as battlefronts. In every heart, empires grapple; in campaigns older, than long-vanished Sumer. Our lone foe, dwells in the darkness of the soul; all worldly tyrants, but bear its flag. #sijo

Dying holds, little romance; though many proclaim, they’d die for love. A noble death, rarely takes long; the full devotion, is to live with duty. Life is not, confined to its endpoints; the true heart guides, the path between. #sijo

The battle, out there somewhere; day-late rumors, of lines and charges. Silence, is our main news; we will all know, when the siege begins. We feel you, through the absence of them; our dim guardians, in the fog. #sijo

I sat, in your chair today; trying to enjoy, the warming sun. I knew, you’d have told me to; yet still I felt, a mournful twinge. Foolishly, I blame the winter; for being cold, while you were here. #sijo

Rainy pond, bubbles with spring’s first frogs; chittering business, to the soggy air. The clouds flow, in a silver stream; as winter unfurls, its travelling sails. My approach, hushes the bog to stillness; and the wind calls me, to move on. #sijo

My feet today, feel miles away; unlike the war, which feels next door. I marvel, as I flex my toes; while waiting to hear, if the shooting’s started. Nations march, and I remain here; staring impotent, at my still feet. #sijo

Without you, the spirit lessens; a wall in my thoughts, dams insights to mire. Fireflies, flit lossfully; in that sacred place, I can no longer go. Lonely eyes, watch through the fence in my mind; as I scheme dearly, to restore you. #sijo

High and low, are spanned as one; by the ranking bridge, of gradation. All extremes, but chosen points; each embodying, a piece of the measure. Unity, in the division of dimensions; the valley sings, the summit’s song. #sijo

Purple waves, spread the shallow sea; in flowing hills, of berry wine. Within each, a thousand more; glinting in all hues, redder than violet. Towel-bound, my eyes transfix downwards; seeing the ocean, in every thread. #sijo

Tumbling moons, of ruling Jupiter; the ships overshone, by the anchor. We watched you, without sighting; dreaming our eyes, the central vision. Oh the tide, your photic sails finally wrought; as they landed in, our lensèd ports. #sijo

The voice calls, in snowflake words; which hang glistening, on my dim tongue. I listen, to the shaped silence; which roars so quiet, I can barely not hear. You claim I, speak these twinkling echoes; I know it is they, that spoke me. #sijo

The dead woman, had your full name; spelled differently, but that little mattered. My eyes burned, with confused tears; at this strange loss, of your nominal twin. I have been, too callous to others’ tragedies; now I share a piece, of their pain. #sijo

As we wait, for that distant news; the hours press us, like a too-soaked garment. Selfishly, I wish the strife begun; to escape the weight, of anticipation. Not my war, though it is surely ours; this impaling watch, has been no peace. #sijo

Burning dreams, in broken scenes; the thunder rolls, so silently. Winter’s eye, has lost the lie; as flags are waved, before the light. Fair Sunday, weeps to hear them preach; they know too well, what they do. #sijo

Love’s first seed, is a windy impulse; love’s grown tree, bears the weight of mountains. On meeting you, I could fly to the moon; duty’s gravity, now holds me to your earth. Soaring hopes, of our wandering passions; have finally found, a place to land. #sijo

When we parted, I did not cry; for I had not yet, known your absence. Returning, to the empty room; the silence wrung me, like a wet sponge. Now I see, the you-shaped gap in all my moments; my tears have dried, but still I weep. #sijo

Those who stare, only at their shadows; often bemoan, the lack of sun. Easier, to expound self-darkness; than to turn and face, the light outside. Their warped wit, belies an aching fear; to love and lose, the good and bright. #sijo

We are seen, by the great seer; music box dancers, to the tune of life. To sense, is to create within; so the grand conscious, becomes our varied selves. Those who doubt, the spirits of stuffed animals; little know themselves, the toys of God. #sijo

I find blank, but not emptiness; unordered points, waiting for lines. This void, is one of spaces; its boiling questions, overflowing maybes. By no right, I churn the depths to form; as “what” dissolves, into “this”. #sijo

There was a joy, that freedom wrought; when solitude, was my prairie plain. It has been plowed, and lies thick with harvest; yet where now roams, that frolicking spirit? Growing up, is a gain of distance from the ground; the ripe ear longs, for its root. #sijo

Evening mist, the humid gray; though winter, the air is seasonless. To this place, there is no first visit; each journey, is a return. In the haze, the womb of stories grrs; the twilight humming, with sun-lost germs. #sijo

No shortage, of true adages; no end either, to their contradictions. “The brave man, never gives up”; “letting go, is the path of true strength”. Real wisdom, lies in correct selection; a sage must be, an editor. #sijo

When the bough, ripped from the trunk; I was surprised, to see new sky. One might think, the tree would rot; but in partial death, opportunity blooms. New green shoots, have grown to drink that sky; the unbowed trunk, branching anew. #sijo

The blinding, of burning snow; has dulled with twilight, to a graying glow. The hard dirt, hides hidden ice; the frozen remains, of a melting dream. The dusk air, is warm in its stillness; as harsh winter’s day, gentles to night. #sijo

Bedroom walls, were today’s horizons; the well-worn view, of a sick day. My mind slept, at strange intervals; and I could not tell, if I was hungry. But I felt, your love in each glass of honey tea; and even this day, was happy. #sijo

The beauty, of averages; take me, as a composite. Ever erring, from my mean truth; I am all at once, my time-collapsed self. Tell me why, it was set in motion; this twisting prism, called history. #sijo

The cube, is undying; for its wordily forms, are not itself. Smash some dice, and the cube is unharmed; the atoms alone, have suffered change. Am I not, a 3D shape of sorts; held eternal, in Logic’s weave? #sijo

With windy steps, the water is marching; in the ice-locked pace, of a thousand waves. The winter beach, barren but for debris; bears the tinkling beat, of tiny shards of freeze. Above us, the pure sky is a merciless blue; as cold sunlight bathes, the river’s sway. #sijo

I had laughed off, the old paradoxes; misbelieving them, too easily solved. Ever creeping, that smug assumption; that yesterday’s men, were hopelessly naive. Now I see, I have no solutions; but to heed better, the worthy dead. #sijo

I had no words, to assuage your grief; fearing kind phrases, would sting like hot rain. So silence, was my poor gift to you; though I feared that too, would have its own bite. Yet I know, it is not too late to exchange; thus my nightly stare, at this blank page. #sijo

Stairways climb, orange clouds of glass; that sail ever, in faded yellow skies. One footfall, turns the step purple; and clear notes ring, the strider’s ascent. You asked me, where this walkway leads; as we clasped hands, to face the sun. #sijo

My failings, lie like serpents; in the tall grass, where my life walks. Those patches, I weed often; but to hide a snake, takes just a little growth. Then fangs strike, and the day is poisoned; leaving me to weep, my negligence. #sijo

Our tree shudders, under the weight; of gnawing things, that hunger without light. Too little, our dwindling medicines; this crooked timber, must groan a cracking sigh. Make ready, for the coming age of splinters; and pray the boughs snap, before the trunk. #sijo

Orion, hung above us; though we had not, yet learned his name. In my eyes, he was a crown; an emblem of rule, rising to the south. The night sky, mirrors our souls like ink blots; the stars lay naked, my ambition. #sijo

The silence, of falling snow; our footsteps, gentle thunder. The white earth, extends all around; our faces peep, from our jackets. Your gloved hand, gently grasps mine close; despite the wind, I am warm. #sijo

Dancer, in the changing moon; you soar the realms, beyond start and stop. Your rhythm, grinds down mountains; your footfalls, bloom the yearly fields. Let me step, in your making chaos unmaking; and become one, with wax and wane. #sijo

Day disrupted, by happy doings; routine broken, by newcome joys. Should I mourn, for my vanished cycles; or bury them, in a tyrant’s tomb? I have lost, an illusion of permeance; love moves me crab-like, to larger shells. #sijo

Do not ask, to be understood; those who know, are not those who learn. Speak the words, that make men stumble; that in standing up, they may grasp higher. It’s not peace, but a sword they need; let them find you, in your struggle. #sijo

Silence falls, like syllables; empty units, of solid lack. Words lie, but lies can be true; blank spaces, cannot even be false. Yet nothing, sings with the promise of potential; symphonies start with, a waving wand. #sijo

Like Sirius, rising in summer; this winter eve, sees its own bright star. Venus, of the evening and morn; incarnate light, of the subterrene sun. Milky Way, she is all my night sky; here to gaze on, for just a moon. #sijo

It rained, all day today; overnight, all will be ice. Five hours, of melting tomorrow; and then none, for at least a day. My mother, cancels her twice-delayed appointments; as our schedules freeze, with the roads. #sijo

Months away, waiting was easier; now mere days left, I keep checking the time. Frustration, bubbles to the surface; where before, there had been calm patience. Perhaps I, have been this way all along; but now have the strength, to feel it. #sijo

At first, I sought meaning; but no books, could tell me where it lay. In time, I found meaning; but no words, could show the route I’d gone. Now I see, the limit of teaching; for paths can’t take you, to where you are. #sijo

“The shark to fear, is not the one you see; but the one you don’t,” I heard the divers say. The survivors, report such confusion; bodies half-broken, before they glimpse its eyes. My country, the waters teem with flashing fins; and I fear you, are not looking. #sijo

Like a night, without a moon; like a daydream, full of shadows. Like the sun, behind a cloud; like a memory, half-remembered. My heartbeats, echo in this room; and the white walls, whisper your name. #sijo

Just two days, without central heating; and I’m already, claiming misery. My ancestors, lived entire ages; with little more, than well-applied fires. I now taste, what it means to be cold in winter; how will I dare, complain again? #sijo

Morning snow, splits trees in half; I shake branches clean, to save those I can. Nightmare-like, I find my treasured friend; already broken, and buried half in white. A numbness, steals over my body; and I know it’s not, from the cold. #sijo