Chance – Page 26 – Iron Haiku

coruscating snow
slithers across the highway
hastened by the wind
–
morning sun-
cherry blossoms
in the snow

a vial of poison-
reminiscences of you
held up to my lips
–
desert skies-
reflections of death
in the watering hole

at once of two worlds-
straddling the razor’s edge
between life and death
–
winter sun-
the hawk’s shadow
grows smaller

packed commuter train
a stranger’s breath on my neck
making my skin crawl
–
rising darkness-
the files close
and I’m alone

I wear this body
as shroud around my soul
woven from my life
–
lemon blossoms-
rain darkens
a terra cotta pot

I close my eyes and
before sleep overtakes me
I pray for those I’ve killed
–
fireworks-
earplugs in
a darkened room

blind and deaf old men
sit in darkened boardrooms and
beat the drums of war
–
black water-
death waiting
on the far bank

glowing yellow eyes-
pure malevolence lurking
within the shadows
–
soft underbelly-
the sudden turn
of claws and teeth

my bed, no respite
dark lonely hours renege on
the promise of sleep
–
flannel sheets-
the rhythm
of your breath

written in anger
signed in blood and gently sealed
with the kiss of death
–
impending storm-
newspapers aloft
in the morning wind