Beneath – Page 37 – Iron Haiku

in the evening sky-
the suggestion of darkness
from the crescent moon
–
new moon-
black before
the dark of night

warm spring afternoon
rolling down a grassy hill
into a mass grave
–
wispy clouds-
grass stains and
smiling faces

ahead of the dawn
plodding bleary eyed into
an ashen twilight
–
flannel sheets-
coyotes barking
before the sunrise

my cupped hands hiding
the glow of a cigarette
behind the garage
–
cold rain-
ignoring my phone
before last call

the taste of winter
falling from the sky for miles
to melt on my tongue
–
platform two-
frost gathers
on my lashes

asleep on the beach-
so far away from winter
and your icy touch
–
caribbean surf-
tracing lazy circles
on the small your back

southward flying geese
their long journey just begun
as mine is ending
–
warm boots-
my old dog’s
snowy muzzle

echoing silence-
bodies strewn haphazardly
on the downtown streets
–
an absence of birds-
villagers gather fish
in the receding sea

heads bowed in respect
under an overcast sky
the flag at half mast
–
rising winds-
halyards ring
the flagpole

filling the valley-
bright sunlight captured in the
autumn morning mist
–
slanted sunlight-
in the canyon
a river of fog