A year ago, right around now, a friend of mine died tragically and unexpectedly. He was a gentle, lanky, funny person, who loved haiku, photography, and martial arts, which he whimsically referred to as ‘slicing the sky with a stick.’ (And cutting the occasional pumpkin with a sword, especially this time of year.) The skies around town have been showing off particularly well this week–I like to think that they’re turning out some autumnal best in honor of his memory as well.

Autumn winds whip trees,
dropping twigs, leaves, and one stick
perfect to slice the sky.
by Meg Winikates, in memory of Brad L.
