june's end haikus

smoke fills the canyons
rivers carry ash and tears
one thousand fires burn

I dream of japan
rice flowers and clean streets
cherry blossoms floating

the world is on fire
to cool my famished skin
I drink the river in

june days are long
we swim in glass green water
for hours, far away

in the dark night
we cross the ancient bridge
where miners hung

spirits fill the skies
in the smoke of burning woods
they sing in the night

crash, shattered glass,
midnight at the riverside
a black bear plunders

I dream of laughter
a tribal path to the river

trickster’s strong limbs