Breath – Page 28 – Iron Haiku

faces of the dead
constantly with me waiting
for my eyes to close
–
lost souls-
the silence
of the fen

your head on my chest
the sudden twitch of your leg
as you fall asleep
–
contemplation-
the sounds
of soft breathing

the smile on your lips
reaches deep into your eyes
and into my heart
–
darkness-
reaching out
for your hand

the sky badly bruised
sitting beneath the mottled
colors of sundown
–
roiling-
iron clouds
hanging low

picking at breakfast
sitting across the table
from the ghost of you
–
wilted flowers-
your whisper
in my ear

the day’s work is done
a blanket of fog settles
over bleaching bones
–
curling water-
the soft rattle
of empty shells

searching for a trace
of the light behind your eyes
but making my peace
–
afterimage-
the candle
doused

wandering the earth
easing pain and suffering
collecting last breaths
–
a copse of trees-
bones
amid the litter

shellshocked and bleeding-
wandering the husk of a
demolished building
–
floating ash-
Nothing left but
deafening silence

my anger rising
holding back my tongue
while I try to breathe
–
irritation –
ring tails slip
into the shadows