February 2021 – Iron Haiku

unexpected snow-
an onshore breeze silently
stirs the bulrushes
–
ebb tide-
snow falls gently
on the salt marsh

bright mid-winter stars-
your alabaster shoulders
dressed by the ghost moon
–
rumpled sheets-
asleep intertwined
blanketed by the moon

the senbazuru-
origami alchemy
brings my cranes to life
–
parchment skin –
rice paper slowly
creased and folded

a warm winter’s day-
snow melt runs in rivulets
down these ivied walls
–
freezing rain-
english ivy
glazed in ice

hard edged and soulless-
the treacherous dawn comes to
spirit you away
–
softly closing doors-
again I awake
to an empty bed

february wind-
red cheeks burning from a cold
slap across the face
–
digging out-
melting snow
mingles with sweat

horizontal snow-
sparrows visit my feeder
heedless of the storm
–
rime crusted wings-
a short respite
on my lilac