January 2017 – Iron Haiku

my view, distorted
looking up from the bottom
of this hole I’ve dug
–
a rimy pond-
peering up through
frozen cataracts

cold drops of silver
spill into the open mouth
of the crescent moon
–
starlight-
a barn owl glides
through leafless trees

standing before you
silent and overexposed
awaiting judgement
–
whitecaps-
riding the edge
of an avalanche

becoming August
fevered skin, heat lightning, and
the promise of rain
–
an azure pond-
fish break the surface
amid the evening rain

sitting on the dock
losing patience waiting for
my ship to come in
–
a cold hard rain-
the dog brings
her leash

falling off my bike
I become one with the earth
for just a moment
–
june twilight-
our vows float away
on paper lanterns

swallowing my doubts
returning day after day
in case you wake up
–
patchwork sunlight-
I brush the sleep
from your lips

on the precipice
staring out into the void
and back at myself
–
barren branches-
a great horned owl
spreads her wings

awash in the surf
my toes buried in the stars
strewn across the sky
–
ebb tide-
crushed shells
and hermit crabs

left in a doorway
the simple offering of
a small jade Buddha
–
the slanting sun-
putting to bed the
last work of the day