Animal – Page 19 – Iron Haiku

worn jungle jacket-
three tours couldn’t prepare him
for life on the street
–
cold sweat-
desert sands
abrade his dreams

low distant thunder-
the smell of fall in the air
as the rain rolls in
–
sleeping cats-
outside the rain
turns to sleet

an autumn sunset-
the shadow of a goshawk
long on the meadow
–
oak leaves-
slipping below
a covered bridge

a cool autumn eve
the reclining crescent moon
asleep in the sky
–
a blue heron-
flying under
the misty moon

blackbird’s lilting song-
sunlight caresses your face
just before you wake
–
in the clouds-
the soft glow of
an autumn dawn

waiting for the train
I stand on the platform near
the other pigeons
–
misty morning-
migrating geese
return to the sky

I can’t sleep at all
visions of the restless dead
inhabit my dreams
–
moon shadows-
a raven robed
in cobwebs

no one’s allowed in-
there’s only room for me in
this suit of armor
–
swift water-
armored scales
dimple the surface

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