Age – Page 40 – Iron Haiku

eyes looking inward
staring into the darkness
barely held at bay
–
cleansing breaths-
the forest
whispers

open bed pickup
memories caught by the wind
litter the highway
–
twisted fingers-
brittle pages of
her wedding album

lives in transition
our time of death uncertain
until the next one
–
morning glory-
time enough
to live again

packed commuter train
a stranger’s breath on my neck
making my skin crawl
–
rising darkness-
the files close
and I’m alone

in the dead of night
the monster under my bed
turns out to be me
–
skeletal branches-
the window framing
unfounded fears

I wear this body
as shroud around my soul
woven from my life
–
lemon blossoms-
rain darkens
a terra cotta pot

I close my eyes and
before sleep overtakes me
I pray for those I’ve killed
–
fireworks-
earplugs in
a darkened room

blind and deaf old men
sit in darkened boardrooms and
beat the drums of war
–
black water-
death waiting
on the far bank

glowing yellow eyes-
pure malevolence lurking
within the shadows
–
soft underbelly-
the sudden turn
of claws and teeth

snoring quietly
your head still on my shoulder-
our show just over
–
dreams of snow-
waking to
tv static