Between – Page 24 – Iron Haiku

Afternoon

a beer in my hand
cut grass drying on the lawn
as the clouds pass by
–
muted laughter-
steaks sear
over glowing coals

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

my soul recoils from
the cold skeletal touch of
the angel of death
–
twilight-
fireflies lead me
across the river

immaturity-
unsure of how to deal with
my first streaks of gray
–
afternoon light-
test swatches
on the wall

a glowering moon-
the creak of a rocking chair
in an empty house
–
moonlit shadows-
your hand
pale in mine

high flying embers
remnants of a prior life
slowly turn to ash
–
distant thunder-
lightning strikes
a joshua tree

in a basement bar
the windows dirty with time
drinking my coffee
–
sheets of rain-
a community
of strangers

now all that remains-
the sweet taste of success and
your cherry lip gloss
–
fresh cut grass-
an old blanket and
poetry

waves rise up and fall
the rhythm of the ocean
moves us together
–
surfing-
the swell
of your hips

families asunder-
buzzards circling high above
the southwest desert
–
riding the smoke-
wild horses
in the distance