Beneath – Page 53 – Iron Haiku

the chill of the moon-
the sun wraps herself tightly
in the cloak of night
–
the winter sky-
delicate pearls grace
the neck of the night

washing and scrubbing
under this scalding water
still I can’t come clean
–
coal smoke-
a cardinal
on the snow

a pair of otters
dozing in the sun floating
far out in the bay
–
bleached driftwood-
iridescent sand
on the ebb tide

machine oiled blued steel
the weight of it heavier
than I expected
–
ice on the rocks-
another shot
added to my burden

I still feel you here
disturbing the emptiness
well after you’re gone
–
thunderclouds-
hard rain off
the tin roof

gaping in the gloom
taking perverted pleasure
in bringing me down
–
pewter skies-
cold rain drips
off the rusted roof

as the sun descends
she draws the curtain of night
to unveil the moon
–
angry lovers-
the evening sun
sets the sky aflame

the battle scarred croc
slips into the black water
with hardly a trace
–
biting cold-
reaching for darkness
through the closing door

in dusty boxes
glimpses of my prior life
relics of the past
–
full blood moon-
cold bony fingers
pluck at my skin

looking at myself
amid the twisted wreckage
of my ruined car
–
mourning doves-
lost in the white
of the winter sky