Haiku by Kwai Sing Chang

Published on: 04/17/08

Heavy, noisy rain
The warmth of down comforter
Heaven need not come

Kwai Sing Chang, 86, 'an exciting teacher'

On the bird feeder
Blue jays eat together
Family dim sum

Why do oceans roar?
Why do mosquitos return?
Why do humans ask?

Another birthday
So buy more green bananas

I will be here

In a robin's nest
Four gaping mouths get a worm
Even the smallest

Swimming in butter
Red Alaskan King crab legs
Wait for my first bite

December blue sky
A jet plane streaking away
Memories arise

The talk of starlings,
Thrashers, mockingbirds, titmouse
Congress in session

In rough ocean waves
A small fishing boat heads home
Tuna sashimi

This haiku was written to honor his wife Miyoko Chang on her 83rd birthday:
Over rough sand dunes
A turtle checks her mileage
Eighty-three so far

Dr. Chang composed this haiku in March, and it says he was ready to embrace death:
White and pink dogwoods
Impatiently, eagerly
Wait to bloom and fall

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