Age – Page 46 – Iron Haiku

this life all too brief-
a freshly fallen snowflake
melting in my hand
–
rebirth-
spring sky in
a robin’s egg

barefoot in the grass-
the rhythm of seasons
under her sundress
–
daydream-
warm sunlight
under my skin

most of my life spent
standing by the water’s edge
never getting wet
–
ashen skies-
in a barrel of rain
my reflection

tattered autumn lace
drifting in the morning air
lofted by the breeze
–
leaf litter-
tulip poplars
shed their skin

gentle drops of rain
fall from the trees to collect
on my upturned face
–
quiet water-
minnows surface
beneath my shadow

mired in the past
endlessly forced to repeat
the sins of my youth
–
born of fire-
ashes rise
into the night

a single oak leaf
silently floats through the air
under azure skies
–
twelve again-
shuffling through
a pile of leaves

in silent anguish
the mute reach out for justice
their voices stolen
–
discordant music-
in the apple tree
a starling

staring at myself-
the bottom of a shot glass
looking back at me
–
oasis-
an empty carcass
in the sand

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death
–
cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison