Above – Page 24 – Iron Haiku

still she counts the ships-
her thick wool sweater stained red
with the setting sun
–
date night-
she sits at a table
set for one

heavy evening air-
silhouettes of hunting bats
in the fading light
–
drawn curtains-
low clouds
full of malice

tending his garden-
rich black soil etched deep into
his leathery hands
–
honeybees
a thistle hides
among the roses

slow rhythmic rocking
as I’m drawn deep into you
my lover the sea
–
crying gulls-
lost in your
cold embrace

stone temple ruins-
echoes of ancient bronze bells
call the monks to prayer
–
summer sunlight-
wending through
the splintered roof

turkey tail mushrooms-
beauty found within decay
and reclamation
–
in the dark-
nimble fingers pick
the mushroom harvest

all the leaves scattered
standing despite itself but
rotten at the core
–
a forest altar-
oaken pews
standing empty

a warm summer eve
mists gather in pools that drip
from the temple roof
–
temple stairs-
stone dragons
cloaked in moss

monsters in my head
clamor at the gates of hell
screaming to be let out
–
the hiss of rain-
slow scratching
under my bed

the sun reaches down
and kisses the horizon
at the dawn of dusk
–
spreading warmth-
two more fingers
of liquid gold