Faith – Page 7 – Iron Haiku

lonely red roses
walked off from the outside by
a thicket of thorns
–
the sun
our children at play
in the back yard

folding the laundry-
I struggle with the mundane
while fame eludes me
–
feeding the birds-
a passing peacock
opens his tail

strange and foreign shores-
weary travelers embark
on their next journey
–
soft underbrush-
a fawn turns to the
welcoming sun

black leather collar
tight around my neck lying
prostrate at your feet
–
cold stone-
village pews
stand empty

the telephone rings-
it seems you and I still have
unfinished business
–
woolen socks and
warm apple cider-
my phone in a drawer

a roadside vigil-
flowers for a young man turned
forever nineteen
–
sudden silence-
shell casings
in the grass

the magic kingdom-
selling scraps of happiness
at a fat profit
–
finally awake-
finding nothing
behind the curtain

on the village green
the shadows of injustice
hang from an oak tree
–
greasy smoke-
torches light
a darkened path

simple linen shrouds-
worn at a time when we are
all truly equal
–
graveside-
the hollow echo
of falling earth

alone with my sins-
I pray for atonement and
for the strength to change
–
overcast-
rain runs down
stained glass