Age – Page 29 – Iron Haiku

a placid trout stream-
three old fishermen stand casting
amid the lilies
–
light rain-
three koi hide
under the bridge

I hit a doorknob
or tripped and fell down the stairs-
I’m just so clumsy
–
an autumn eve-
the sky lit by
a house on fire

I don’t fall in love
but on a night like tonight
I’ll consider it
–
intoxicating-
licking the salt
from your lips

sunday afternoon
on the line the week’s washing
left out in the rain
–
empty bottles-
even the baby
has stopped crying

crawling out of bed
passing by the hall mirror
my reflection gone
–
the dead of night-
awaiting your
invitation

trying to balance-
one foot on the precipice
of your adulthood
–
the arc of the sun-
change made
in a single day

a roadside vigil-
flowers for a young man turned
forever nineteen
–
sudden silence-
shell casings
in the grass

the magic kingdom-
selling scraps of happiness
at a fat profit
–
finally awake-
finding nothing
behind the curtain

your silver hammer
softly tapping cracks into
my porcelain heart
–
soft breathing-
your hair gold
in the sunlight

echoes in the walls-
this unfurnished apartment
hiding its secrets
–
harvest moon-
cool wind
in the corn field