Chance – Page 21 – Iron Haiku

out with the mistress-
his rose garden wilting in
the seething sun
–
my delicate rose-
thorns buried
in my skin

hiding from the sun
living in the shadows while
I curse the darkness
–
the moon obscured-
my ancient thirst
unslaked

my sins behind me
wrapped in white linen steeped in
your divinity
–
under water-
the surface
receding

a secluded beach
the plundered pirate’s chest lay
empty save the sand
–
flood tide-
sandpipers
brave the surf

afternoon hours spent
talking laundry off the line
ahead of the rain
–
the laundromat-
hard plastic chairs
and ennui

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

almost a year clean
yet I still have a hard time
passing by the spoons
–
closing time –
club soda
my paltry reward

meager candle light
cast upon these cottage walls
mingles with shadows
–
gold leaf-
dappled through
the tree tops

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

an aging lighthouse
stands sand blasted and buried
by the walking dunes
–
frigid winds-
the predawn
desert frost