Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
A hefty middle-aged local guy leapt up from his seat when I entered the crowded waiting room, called me Aunty, and offered me his seat. I thanked him but declined because I only had a quick question for the office staff. These days I’m always pleasantly surprised by the Aunty-thing. This happened to me more…
Seize the day Open your eyes Express gratitude Roll out of bed Make the bed Do it now Breathe in, breathe out And stretch Drink that glass of water Use sunscreen Brush and floss Chat with the quiet student next to you Order that unfamiliar but tempting dish Take the plunge Finish that irritating project…
Snow Monkey: The Present The night is deep and dark, and I am the only visitor at the outdoor onsen on the hotel’s roof top. Fortunately, there is no wind, and my body still retains the heat from my previous cleansing. Nevertheless, a tiny towel is the only thing to guard against the winter’s chill,…
“Assistance, please.” A couple of individuals pointed electronic devices in his direction, but the visitor remained locked in time and space. “I need to leave. The guide said that everyone would be well fed, comfortably housed, and pursuing interests which contribute to the greater community. I was promised deep conversations with sensitive, intellectual beings enjoying…
A Life Paper waterfall A mountain of scraps slides downward Unreadable handwritten notes Yellowed newsprint Forgotten bills and receipts Recipes torn from magazines I was so inspired Books buried among the documents Now part of the strata Pretty treasures once used as paper weights Now fossils Memorabilia Notes from a half-remembered workshop Unopened appeals for…
Signposts (100 words) Our writing prompt was an odd one. “What does it mean to be a good ancestor?” Most of my classmates described notable and/or beloved members of their family trees. My mind went a different way. A good ancestor leaves a footprint for future children. It may be the image of a hand…
They say that after the drowsy stretched out afternoons of childhood, time passes quickly as one ages. That’s true for me. I have no bucket list. I’m sampling bits and pieces of life as I used to do with college electives. I’m a dabbler – trying out this new course, that new hobby, this new…
Seoul, 1990: At 42, I was the youngest in our tour group by at least a decade. Korean soldiers waved down our bus, and the driver nervously told our guide that an international incident had just occurred. An armed soldier boarded and walked down the aisle, scrutinizing each of us in turn. Scowling, he disembarked…
BR 100 Word Contest (December): Just one of the many joys of holiday shopping.
BR 100 Words Contest (November): The pain runs wide and deep.