Dream – Page 16 – Iron Haiku

angry bitter tears
burn as they roll down her face
and fall to the dirt
–
arid fields-
dust gathers
around his feet

a cobblestone path-
the back garden gate flanked by
rose bushes in bloom
–
spring breeze-
the cloying scent
of honeysuckle

open bed pickup
memories caught by the wind
litter the highway
–
twisted fingers-
brittle pages of
her wedding album

at once of two worlds-
straddling the razor’s edge
between life and death
–
winter sun-
the hawk’s shadow
grows smaller

in the dead of night
the monster under my bed
turns out to be me
–
skeletal branches-
the window framing
unfounded fears

I wear this body
as shroud around my soul
woven from my life
–
lemon blossoms-
rain darkens
a terra cotta pot

I wake to nothing
but the impression of you
left in my mattress
–
cold sweat-
twisted in
my bedsheets

I close my eyes and
before sleep overtakes me
I pray for those I’ve killed
–
fireworks-
earplugs in
a darkened room

snoring quietly
your head still on my shoulder-
our show just over
–
dreams of snow-
waking to
tv static

my bed, no respite
dark lonely hours renege on
the promise of sleep
–
flannel sheets-
the rhythm
of your breath