Fear – Page 23 – Iron Haiku

under crushing debt
the future turns to ashes
swept by our children
–
wild fire-
fed by embers
on the wind

locked in my safe room
the world burning down outside-
is it hot in here?
–
crimson sky-
ashes drifting
on hot winds

a vial of poison-
reminiscences of you
held up to my lips
–
desert skies-
reflections of death
in the watering hole

packed commuter train
a stranger’s breath on my neck
making my skin crawl
–
rising darkness-
the files close
and I’m alone

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

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

dark menacing skies
downed trees and power lines-
the storm overhead
–
brooding clouds-
wolves bay
in the distance

blind and deaf old men
sit in darkened boardrooms and
beat the drums of war
–
black water-
death waiting
on the far bank

glowing yellow eyes-
pure malevolence lurking
within the shadows
–
soft underbelly-
the sudden turn
of claws and teeth

on the village green
the hollow toll of church bells
ringing out the dead
–
frozen earth-
grave diggers toil
into the night