Fear – Page 27 – Iron Haiku

most of my life spent
standing by the water’s edge
never getting wet
–
ashen skies-
in a barrel of rain
my reflection

mired in the past
endlessly forced to repeat
the sins of my youth
–
born of fire-
ashes rise
into the night

stone walls and dirt floors-
candle flames cling to their wicks
throwing dark shadows
–
straw bedding-
a tallow candle’s
uneasy light

a callous wind blows
through the cracks in these old bones
and broken windows
–
rusty mountains-
poppy fields in
a sniper’s scope

sensing acceptace
evil walks in the daylight
no longer afraid
–
sunlight-
insects scatter
from prying eyes

staring at myself-
the bottom of a shot glass
looking back at me
–
oasis-
an empty carcass
in the sand

hard conversations
and a tongue well versed in the
dialogue of death
–
cherry blossoms-
walking the garden
with just enough poison

staring unfocused-
bloodshot sky barely noticed
through these bleary eyes
–
cottonmouth-
a morning dove
splits my skull

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds
–
echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

staring at myself
I see that I have become
what I feared the most
–
predawn-
coming awake
in a stranger’s mind