Hunger – Page 16 – Iron Haiku

watching you suffer
affords me none of the joy
I was expecting
–
blood moon-
packing my bags
while you sleep

softly spoken words
meant for only you to hear-
whispers by your neck
–
our wedding duvet-
my open heart by
your sleeping ear

whispering my name-
the last word upon your lips
before you leave me
–
peeling paint-
the swinging gate
at my back

a cool cloudy night-
the horizon aglow with
fingers of lighting
–
dry lightning-
fire licks the walks
of the arroyo

up above the fray
just outside of the spotlight
he tugs on the strings
–
a rumpled hat-
his marionette dances
for loose change

as the sun rises
I try once more to forget
the sins of my past
–
spring evening-
frogs still
as I walk past

offer me darkness
and take me to the places
I would never go
–
gnarled trees-
green eyes glow
in the shadows

sawdust on the floor-
the earthy aroma of
horse manure and hay
–
a saddle blanket-
riding bareback
in the tall grass

unspeakable acts-
unlearned lessons of the past
repeating again
–
cattle cars-
disappear within
the gates of hell

dusty fountain pens-
drawers full of love letters she
never meant to send
–
in the stacks-
quietly I try
to catch your eye