Death – Page 43 – Iron Haiku

a kestrel soaring
circling on warm updrafts
focused on its prey
–
wings swept
plummeting
earthward

blinded by hatred
enrobed in the ignorance
of what love can be
–
midnight-
groping for
the light

what makes one man think
he can be judge, jury, and
executioner
–
monsters
in the closet
only a mirror

shouting at the void
trying to keep the silence
from smothering me
–
rain falls
on a carpet
of autumn leaves

the wellspring of souls
beckons inexorably
for us to return
–
the bodisattfa
compassionately
delays nirvana

I shed my skin and
hang another skeleton
deep in my closet
–
alone
with my fetid
alter ego

after a brief rest
a bevy of mourning doves
suddenly takes flight
–
released
upon wings
across the sun
dedicated to Philip Rigney

unkempt and homeless
in need of a shower and
a touch of kindness
–
pray that fate
doesn’t bring you
to my level

it’s just a small cut
and it’s the last time, I swear
until the next one
–
self destruction
a trail of history
on my arms

since you got sent home
I’ve been sitting by your side
praying you’ll return
–
waiting-
trying not
to lose hope