Beneath – Page 27 – Iron Haiku

the village emptied
bodies lay unburied with
no one left to mourn
–
tumbleweeds-
sun scoured bones
picked clean

moonlight in the trees-
silently a cold wind shifts
shadows on the snow
–
long shadows-
the warm wind
walks me home

alabaster skin
flush with the pain of pleasure
however fleeting
–
lilacs in bloom-
bees harbored
in the blossoms

a kiss of sunlight
caught in the underside of
a cardinal’s wing
–
young rabbits-
wild strawberries
hidden in the grass

hiding from the sun
living in the shadows while
I curse the darkness
–
the moon obscured-
my ancient thirst
unslaked

the sea my old friend
greets me with crushed oyster shells
rough beneath my feet
–
driftwood-
seagulls loiter
above the surf

catenary wires-
sparks fly overhead as trains
roll along below
–
rolling fog-
the warning whistle
of an approaching train

the stones in my path
used to build a foundation
keeping me grounded
–
peace-
rain runs off
the temple roof

almost a year clean
yet I still have a hard time
passing by the spoons
–
closing time –
club soda
my paltry reward

meager candle light
cast upon these cottage walls
mingles with shadows
–
gold leaf-
dappled through
the tree tops