Broken – Page 39 – Iron Haiku

acrid smoke rising
the ruins of our marriage
burned and smoldering
–
twilight-
our wedding vows
worn and tarnished

empty eyes soulless-
sliding down the razors edge
between life and death
–
soft rattles-
promises of release
in the tall grass

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

split in two at birth-
all these years spent searching for
that which makes me whole
–
wild horses-
where the river
meets the sea

an aging oak tree-
all our sins laid bare beneath
the outstretched branches
–
a shoe in the grass-
the tire swing
motionless

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

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

thoughts of the fallen-
those who purchased our freedoms
with their flesh and blood
–
old glory-
a red haze blinding
the dogs of war

hand in hand with you
standing by the river’s edge
watching the drawbridge
–
tinted sunlight-
walking across
a fallen tree

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