touch wood

facing away
from the morning sun
in the bonds
of a silent friendship
my shadow       my grief 

the early bird catches the worm. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. make hay while the sun shines. the grass is always greener on the other side. only fools go where angels fear to tread. don't worry, be happy. shit happens. beggars can't be choosers. you can't have your cake and eat it too. if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. out of the frying pan, into the fire. that's the pot calling the kettle black. make love not war. hugs not drugs. give peace a chance. communication is the key. the truth will set you free. no news is good news. cat got your tongue? 

this exhaustion
fills me up
& surrounds me . . .
every word carries
the weight of tears 

let the cat out of the bag. when the cat's away, the mice will play. the cat who got the cream. money makes the world go round. money is the root of all evil. life's a bitch, then you die. anything that can go wrong will go wrong. up shit creek without a paddle. it's just a phase. keep calm and carry on. just do it. break a leg. dream big. love they neighbour. no man is an island. time waits for no man. a stitch in time saves nine. out of sight, out of mind. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. the writing is on the wall. you can't teach an old dog new tricks. you've made your bed, now lie in it. it'll be all right on the night. tomorrow's another day . . . 

the strain
of a spider's web
across my cheek—
dividing life into before
and after leukaemia 

Haibun Today, Volume 7, Number 1, March 2013