Above – Page 21 – Iron Haiku

winter is coming-
it seems only yesterday
the trees were in bloom
–
the forest-
awake under a
blanket of snow

my eyelids heavy
weighed down by lies from the past
that I can’t escape
–
dark skies-
mountain rains
flood the valley

a dusting of snow
years of footfalls revealed in
the worn granite steps
–
an old slate roof-
heavy snow piles
up on the eaves

lonely red roses
walked off from the outside by
a thicket of thorns
–
the sun
our children at play
in the back yard

far down on the street
I look up towards the top floors
enveloped by clouds
–
incoming tide-
the golden gate bridge
draped in fog

palm leaves shade the sand-
reclining in a chaise lounge
drinking in the sun
–
salt air-
margaritas
whet my dreams

hard rain pelts the trees-
a hummingbird takes shelter
on my windowsill
–
desert noon-
seeking shelter
beneath the sand

gauzy hardwood smoke
rises into the night air
obscuring the moon
–
drifting embers-
folding chairs
around the fire

earbuds on silent-
subtly eavesdropping on
your conversation
–
sudden chills-
mantras I whisper
to myself

japanese maples-
bright crimson leaves caught aflame
in the morning sun
–
sudden rain-
sheltering under
an elephant’s ear