Age – Page 47 – Iron Haiku

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds
–
echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

staring at myself
I see that I have become
what I feared the most
–
predawn-
coming awake
in a stranger’s mind

years of wasted time
of opportunities lost
and then you were gone
–
ancient water-
black scales sink
beneath the surface

subtle subversions
deflection, misdirection-
tools of the liar
–
a rocky stream-
mockingbirds
in the wood

autumn mornings spent
polishing the temple bells
as the sun rises
–
robins-
footprints in
the morning dew

worn and creaky stairs-
cobwebs draped in the corners
of her addled mind
–
rising fog-
a futile search
for clarity

full of suspicions-
in our bed looking at you
lying beside me
–
crevasse-
a broken trust
far from healing

a chance encounter
just glimpse of your face then
you’re lost in the crowd
–
incoming tide-
all these memories
built on sand

pleading for my life-
attempting to atone for
the wrongs that I’ve done
–
morning dew-
my sins cast
upon the water

violent currents
slake their thirst with sailor’s lives
by the gates of hell
–
jagged ice-
ancient wrecks
litter the narrows