Death – Page 11 – Iron Haiku

ashen metal sky-
slowly rolling cattle cars
descend into hell
–
chain link fence-
the walking dead
in black and white

a whole life reduced
to two dust covered and scuffed
satchels by her feet
–
cold desert night-
the tent offers
poor respite

rid of you at last
cut from where you’d gotten lodged
just under my skin
–
last year’s maple leaves-
splinters from a
prior life

the end of the rain-
I pull back layers of clouds
to reveal the stars
–
petrichor-
storm clouds
in a puddle

the bathroom door locked –
water covers the threshold
soaking the carpet
–
echos in the hallway-
your phone goes
straight to voice mail

one thing is certain-
with the taxes completed
l just wait for death
–
lights dim-
a life’s debt
repaid

passing the graveyard-
a pale white lady rises
from tendrils of fog
–
solemn silence-
hands clasped
in a circle

a deer in the woods-
the chorus of spring peepers
suddenly silent
–
midnight-
startled awake by
preternatural stillness

that thousand yard stare-
a private and the sergeant
standing toe to toe
–
noonday sun-
new recruit’s hair
litters the floor

writing in the dark-
I dip my pen into the
inkwell of the night
–
a forest path-
fallen trees
turn to dust