Beneath – Page 51 – Iron Haiku

a flash of silver
swimming in place, lingering
against the current
–
buffeted and battered-
leaning
into the wind

the frayed rope, broken
bubbles breaking the surface
of the swimming hole
–
sweet spring air-
off a chestnut branch
a stout rope swings

beauty and horror
entwined around each other
in a spider’s web
–
morning mist-
time passes
red on black

ashes of the past
the land stoic and patient
awaiting rebirth
–
robins gather-
the old gardener
tends to his seedlings

one final look back
collar turned up against the
horizontal rain
–
spring peepers-
the rain of snare drums
on the forest floor

a lone egret stands
beneath a spreading chestnut
sheltered from the rain
–
thunder snow-
after images of
white lighting

an aging pen knife
coaxes an old fisherman
from a block of wood
–
midday rain-
an empty chrysalis
among the milkweed

freshly turned earth falls
from the back of my shovel
burying the light
–
overcast skies-
a tenuous flame
turns to smoke

endlessly sifting
the detritus of the day
while sleep eludes me
–
an unkempt sky –
wind driven surf
pounds the shore

you are my center-
the sky above my head and
ground beneath my feet
–
autumn leaves-
take from me the
very air I breathe