Cold – Page 53 – Iron Haiku

traveling down this
river of asphalt toward
the vanishing point
–
maple leaves
swirling eddies in
a mountain steam

an eclipse of moths
dancing around the asters
joyful for the fall
–
october dawn
sycamore seeds
drifting in the breeze

thin walls, raised voices
across the street, it’s last call
in my third floor flat
–
crow on a gaslight
fog blanketing
cobblestones

a fire in the hearth
the snap of the autumn air
echoes in the flames
–
dying coals
fire orchids
in full bloom

an afternoon walk
the shuffling of footsteps
through the fallen leaves
–
a quiet brook
the sharp snap
of a dry twig

as dawn approaches
the breath of autumn whispers
in the swirling leaves
–
barefoot at dawn
walking in the surf
I draw you closer

as night turns to day
the glow of the morning star
hidden by the dawn
–
last night’s coals
by my breath
flare to life

windows thrown open
sheer curtains gently wafting
in the evening breeze
–
becoming Icarus
flying westward
chasing the sun

working the block plane
paper thin curls of maple
littering the floor
–
a snowy owl
gliding silently
across the night

not quite a woman
and yet no longer a girl
searching for her path
–
fresh snow
treading lightly
in your footprints