Holiday – Page 2 – Iron Haiku

midnight approaches-
carrying the promises
of the coming year
–
again-
the rising sun
greets the new year

well after midnight
christmas eve fire in the hearth
burning down to ash
–
a warm hearth-
ashes mix with
the falling snow

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

a bite in the air-
nighthawks begin flying south
along the shoreline
–
orange moon-
the year’s work
ready for harvest

down by the river
releasing slights collected
after all these years
–
on my back-
the weight of countless
grains of sand

family outings
picnics paid for with the blood
of fallen soldiers
–
small flags-
dates carved
in cold granite

corrupted and vile
poisonous invasive roots
unwilling to yield
–
oblivious-
wandering into
a nest of vipers

asleep on the beach-
so far away from winter
and your icy touch
–
caribbean surf-
tracing lazy circles
on the small your back

a shaft of sunlight-
the autumnal equinox
finally arrives
–
apple harvest-
lengthening shadows
mark the time

the pen freshly inked
yet hesitating over
whose name is written
–
falling leaves-
unheard, a hawk
passes overhead