Forest – Page 13 – Iron Haiku

before the thunder
a flash of jagged lightning
frozen in the snow
–
august sagebrush-
ravenous flames
insatiable

as winter arrives
fog seeps into the valley
under a veiled moon
–
harvest moon-
the arthritic fingers
of barren trees

a deep mountain pool
overflowing with moonlight
waiting on the rain
–
predawn silence-
dew collects
on fallen leaves

staring deep into
an empty sheet of paper
conjuring the muse
–
winter’s canvas-
a palette of pine
and fresh snow

visiting the well
my wooden bucket dipping
deep in the moonlight
–
alongside the lake-
the harvest moon
follows me home

splintering sunlight
broad winter shadows reaching
out across the lea
–
fresh snow-
a smattering
of paw prints

lies in the mirror
not what we truly are but
what we wish to be
–
leafless-
reflections in
the watery sky

waiting for the thaw
beneath fallen leaves and snow
a box turtle sleeps
–
frosted windows-
deeply burrowed
under blankets

early morning haze
the pale tint of the full moon
just above the trees
–
first light-
the fog and I
rise together

budding at long last
relationships long buried
exposed to the light
–
tawney pine straw
a squirrel caches
his winter stores