Beneath – Page 63 – Iron Haiku

don’t gamble on me
there’s far too much at stake and
you don’t know the score
–
what you see
I choose
to show

I’m never alone
my ally, my enemy
you’re always with me
–
ever present
that little voice
of self doubt

freshly mown spring grass
a frog hops to the safety
of an old stone wall
–
the bull frog
peeks out from
behind a stone

in grape arbor
a cardinal seeks shelter
from the driving rain
–
secluded
deep within
my wine glass

drowning in darkness
heaved out and left on the rocks
gasping for the sun
–
sinking…
yearning for
the surface

I wake intent on
fighting an uphill battle
I know I will lose
–
high tide
a turtle shell
lies empty

bandaged wedding vows
broken trust slowly healing
despite all the pain
–
loss…
mostly
regained

a feather’s tip nicks
the torn paper’s ragged edge
bleeding bright black ink
–
an obligation
the contract
signed in blood

in the forest glen
a dappled fawn lies hidden
in the underbrush
–
shrouded
cloaked within
our own narrative

deeply search your soul
and when the darkness calls you
choose not to answer
–
evil
waits for an
eager listener