January 2019 – Iron Haiku

the warm light of dawn
eases in through the curtains
and kisses your cheek
–
early light-
a gentle kiss on
your sleeping head

the fire laid on while
winter in all its fury
rages at my door
–
grey skies-
cruel winter winds
howl at the moon

wind in the rushes-
dawn breaks on a night-heron
stalking the salt marsh
–
onshore breezes-
deep in the fen
the cattails sing

far icy mountains
bathed in shades of white and blue
float on arctic seas
–
broken ice-
polar bears
search for respite

cloudless starlit skies-
a pale white moonbow appears
above the aspen
–
double rainbow-
a gracious gift
after the storm

warm embers of clouds
gilded rose and violet
from the rising sun
–
dawn moon-
a crow alights
on an ashen branch

with a poisoned pen
I write stories in the blood
of the innocent
–
desert sagebrush-
rattlesnakes hidden
in plain sight

golden morning light
drapes across the pristine snow-
dark bamboo shadows
–
late afternoon-
shadows cast by
window blind

#shadows

I catch your eye as
we pass each other by but
you’re out of my league
–
noonday sun-
lions stalking
in the tall grass

at the forest’s edge
a guttering lantern hangs
from a shepherd’s crook
–
winter stars-
the warm glow
of a coach lamp