Faith – Page 5 – Iron Haiku

puppets to a one-
dancing to unheard music
hung from tangled threads
–
skeletal fingers-
pulling taut
the threads of fate

on a twisted branch
outside my window a crow
in the black of night
–
india ink-
an ebony feather
is my quill

around my ankle
an invisible red thread
that binds me to you
–
a cardinal-
in the holly his mate
awaits his return

clearing the tables-
the bartender stacks the chairs
yet we’re still talking
–
lost in your eyes-
waiting to speak
two simple words

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

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

a towering oak-
our initials in a heart
carved into the trunk
–
sunset park-
the bench where
we first met

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

clutching thoughts and prayers
while we let those who suffer
slip through our fingers
–
predawn chill-
sleeping children
suddenly fatherless