HOMO HAIKU 

—for James Kirkup

LAKE WASHINGTON

Thirty-four years now—
Living down here by the lake
What would Bashō say?

SEAGULLS

The seagulls flying—
Slowly up there high above
Down below the lake

BLACK BIRDS

The blackbirds flying—
Over from Dead Horse Canyon
They like the lake too

JAPAN

Japan came to me—
The son of my first lover
Japanese mother

MARINE

A handsome Marine—
He survived Afghanastan
Then succumbed to me

YOUNG STUD

A mountain climber—
Suicidal skydiver
So tres butch male

LOSING IT

And yet when he came—
All of his male strength squirting
Exquisitely fem

SMART-ASS

He was tres smart-ass—
Not college material
He liked to show off

BREEDER

A breeder, of course—
Soon married & then a kid
Hets make real hot sucks

BASHŌ

Probably Bashō—
Would approve since his lover
Was a cute young Prince

EXILE

Exile for Bashō—
That’s how a poet becomes
A gay wanderer