Family – Page 19 – Iron Haiku

quietly aging-
under the stairs, a box of
curling photographs
–
wind blown leaves-
walking slowly
hand in hand

faded love letters
the pages of our marriage
dog-eared and wrinkled
–
mulled cider-
clothes fresh
from the dryer

living day by day
striving to open my mind
and keep my mouth shut
–
nests amid the rafters-
prayer bells ring
in the rain

cut from the same cloth
the two of us holding fast
lest it unravel
–
sheep shearing-
lost in thought
or so it seems

your small fragile hand
once grasped so tightly in mine
now a hardened fist
–
clear blue sky-
learning to fly
on the way down

history lessons-
hard fought wisdom wasted on
those who will not learn
–
melting ice-
unwilling to accept
being this path

open to the cold
exposed and vulnerable
naked and alone
–
new life-
tempted
by the light

giggling children
burying my feet in warm
caribbean sands
–
shearwaters-
palms fronds
in the breeze

your head on my chest
my face buried in your hair
breathing in your scent
–
the witching hour-
watching your heart
softly beating

intently watching
as the castle in the sky
slowly drifts apart
–
drifting snow-
together leading
separate lives