Animal – Page 26 – Iron Haiku

over greening trees
the ashen face of winter
watches the sunrise
–
peep frogs-
rainfall on
the river

barnacles gather
just below the waterline
where the piers once stood
–
rotting pilings-
waves, the echoes
of children’s laughter

any hope of sleep
spurned by the approaching dawn
and a snoring dog
–
sleeping dogs-
the violent death
of a cardboard box

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

after the thunder
the sun dances in the snow
through the parting clouds
–
winter morning-
a snowy egret
dips her bill

at once of two worlds-
straddling the razor’s edge
between life and death
–
winter sun-
the hawk’s shadow
grows smaller

dark menacing skies
downed trees and power lines-
the storm overhead
–
brooding clouds-
wolves bay
in the distance

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

a pair of sneakers
found by the side of the road
after the cleanup
–
waiting crows-
a possum’s
sacrifice