Cold – Page 47 – Iron Haiku

standing before you
silent and overexposed
awaiting judgement
–
whitecaps-
riding the edge
of an avalanche

sitting on the dock
losing patience waiting for
my ship to come in
–
a cold hard rain-
the dog brings
her leash

swallowing my doubts
returning day after day
in case you wake up
–
patchwork sunlight-
I brush the sleep
from your lips

on the precipice
staring out into the void
and back at myself
–
barren branches-
a great horned owl
spreads her wings

frost on the windows-
heat from the radiator
rustles the curtains
–
warm boots-
glowing embers
adrift in the smoke

guttering gas lamps
weakly lighting the platform
where she waits, in vain
–
the scent of jasmine-
a silent stream
turns to ice

as winter arrives
fog seeps into the valley
under a veiled moon
–
harvest moon-
the arthritic fingers
of barren trees

a deep mountain pool
overflowing with moonlight
waiting on the rain
–
predawn silence-
dew collects
on fallen leaves

walking in the snow
grinning as you casually
step in my footprints
–
robin tracks-
early spring
snowfall

picking myself up
from all the times I’ve fallen
back in love with you
–
floating ice-
piling up
downstream