Down by the Willow

down by the willow
whose graceful new-green branches sway
is a woman dancing barefoot in the grass with a wand in her hand
her eyes are closed and she is smiling

down by the river
brown and parturient with recent rainfall
is an old man communing silently with a praying mantis on his hand
they are smiling at each other

down by the forest's edge
where sunlight falls dappled and in beams
is a little girl molding a ball of golden light between her raised hands
she meets my eyes and smiles

down by the bamboo
diamonds of dew glint on trembling leaves
I am kneeling at the flowerbed and mixing soil with my bare hands
dreamy-eyed and smiling at you