Cold – Page 29 – Iron Haiku

family outings
picnics paid for with the blood
of fallen soldiers
–
small flags-
dates carved
in cold granite

a candle and spoon-
the bare bulb above her head
casts a harsh shadow
–
on the corner-
slowing headlights
catch the rain

pale whispers of men
pass by along the river
rowing in silence
–
walking stick in hand-
my footprints
fading

watching you suffer
affords me none of the joy
I was expecting
–
blood moon-
packing my bags
while you sleep

ringing in the night –
hearing the sound of your voice
I fall to my knees
–
silent crickets-
two marines stand
in my doorway

in the dark shadows
cobwebs cling to memories
of a distant past
–
winter stubble-
remnants of
my father

as the fog rolls in
skeletons of spectral trees
fade into the night
–
foggy evening-
gnarled branches
scratch at my window

slices of the moon
slivered through the window blinds
drape across your back
–
snowy owl-
cold branches
in the dead of night

a stash of acorns
squirreled away for safekeeping
in a hollow tree
–
bird feeder-
spring daffodils
seek the sun

a silver quarter
rolling between my fingers-
practice makes perfect
–
trafalgar square-
the red queen
hiding