Life – Page 101 – Iron Haiku

on our bedroom shelf
a collection of sea glass
each piece a moment
–
dogwoods-
petals stolen
by the wind

my better judgement
failing me once again for
momentary bliss
–
late summer-
the prayers
of the mantis

anticipation-
enduring the pain, thankful
for feeling at all
–
deadheading-
rose thorns
pierce my skin

a flash of silver
swimming in place, lingering
against the current
–
buffeted and battered-
leaning
into the wind

weeping cherry trees-
a wistful gaze through windows
that never open
–
budding branches-
a cockatoo’s
clipped wings

the frayed rope, broken
bubbles breaking the surface
of the swimming hole
–
sweet spring air-
off a chestnut branch
a stout rope swings

the marquee of dreams
in the theatre of my mind
ripe with false promise
–
summer rain-
the blind
desert sands

forced conversation-
a glance at his empty chair
then awkward silence
–
oddly quiet-
the azure sky
free of birds

ashes of the past
the land stoic and patient
awaiting rebirth
–
robins gather-
the old gardener
tends to his seedlings

age pierces my side-
gasping as my youth runs out
between my fingers
–
crying crows-
my chest heaving at
mile marker two