Cold – Page 25 – Iron Haiku

a cool autumn eve
the reclining crescent moon
asleep in the sky
–
a blue heron-
flying under
the misty moon

waiting for the train
I stand on the platform near
the other pigeons
–
misty morning-
migrating geese
return to the sky

I hit a doorknob
or tripped and fell down the stairs-
I’m just so clumsy
–
an autumn eve-
the sky lit by
a house on fire

sunday afternoon
on the line the week’s washing
left out in the rain
–
empty bottles-
even the baby
has stopped crying

crawling out of bed
passing by the hall mirror
my reflection gone
–
the dead of night-
awaiting your
invitation

I may seem nice but
if I had my way I’d carve
the meat from your bones
–
desperate thirst-
lions in the
tall grass

a roadside vigil-
flowers for a young man turned
forever nineteen
–
sudden silence-
shell casings
in the grass

beauty and danger
your small delicate flower
surrounded by thorns
–
clearing haze-
following the trail
of blood diamonds

echoes in the walls-
this unfurnished apartment
hiding its secrets
–
harvest moon-
cool wind
in the corn field

late into the night-
pouring over lesson plans
and student papers
–
a clenched fist-
time still runs
through my fingers