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Here’s a series of poems — mostly haiku and tanka — I composed while watching my sister-in-law play beach volleyball in Southern California 2 days after Christmas.

Red, yellow, blue

Matches in a row.

Sparks of spikes

Ground out in the sand.

Nice save, baby! Woo!

Over! Over! Let me take it! Arg.

End score: 15-5

Cruising the wave tops

Dorsal fins pierce the surface

Frolicking along

Yellow white yellow

Spins against crystal clear blue

Drops into seashell

Skimming the surface

Coasting on the wind thermals

Feather frosted spray

Official game ball

Waits its turn on the sideline

Solitary, still

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• Christmas in SoCal