Chance – Page 32 – Iron Haiku

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death
–
cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison

staring unfocused-
bloodshot sky barely noticed
through these bleary eyes
–
cottonmouth-
a morning dove
splits my skull

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds
–
echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

disoriented
twisted, I fall through my dreams
and land in my bed
–
ephemeral-
fire across
the evening sky

years of wasted time
of opportunities lost
and then you were gone
–
ancient water-
black scales sink
beneath the surface

every single day
regrettable decisions
I can’t seem to stop
–
waiting in vain-
a puddle
of streetlight

driving down the road
catching a glimpse of my wife
in the passing train.
–
flat water-
migrating geese
pass overhead

the window broken-
in the unlit house glass shards
crunching underfoot
–
descending silence-
a wizened elm
uprooted

I may be different
but I am not a problem
that needs to be solved
–
fly fishing-
different clouds
under the same sky

worn and creaky stairs-
cobwebs draped in the corners
of her addled mind
–
rising fog-
a futile search
for clarity