Cold – Page 45 – Iron Haiku

night in the forest
an passing train rumbling
off in the distance
–
distant music-
blackbirds perched
on power lines

the final door closed
all the words you wouldn’t hear
and now never will
–
sudden frost-
orange blossoms
wither and brown

shortening my stride
slowing behind old lovers
walking hand in hand
–
icy harbor-
the crush of a
rising and falling tide

living with strangers-
years torn from my memory
replayed day by day
–
dimming light-
a quiet place
to lay my head

so much left unsaid
I’m not sure that I can take
your icy silence
–
pools of sunshine-
the soft dripping
of melting ice

the chill of the moon-
the sun wraps herself tightly
in the cloak of night
–
the winter sky-
delicate pearls grace
the neck of the night

alabaster hills
cherry blossoms harken to
the first blush of spring
–
snowdrops-
a hint of cherry
on your lips

tendrils of ground fog
seep down into the lowlands
just before the dawn
–
melting snow-
a silver crescent
in the mist

washing and scrubbing
under this scalding water
still I can’t come clean
–
coal smoke-
a cardinal
on the snow

machine oiled blued steel
the weight of it heavier
than I expected
–
ice on the rocks-
another shot
added to my burden