Life – Page 109 – Iron Haiku

walking in the snow
grinning as you casually
step in my footprints
–
robin tracks-
early spring
snowfall

picking myself up
from all the times I’ve fallen
back in love with you
–
floating ice-
piling up
downstream

awake at first light
realizing far too late
I’m not who I thought
–
venus rising-
difficult memories
consigned to the fire

gilded double doors
open with empty promises
of false salvation
–
heavy leaden sky-
swollen riverbanks
poised to overflow

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

a new day dawning
stale vestiges of the past
left by the roadside
–
first light-
the morning star
through hollow trees

grey curls of wet smoke-
the kiss of embers linger
on her ruby lips
–
midnight sweat-
a lazy ceiling fan
stirs the air

chasing the sunset
just over the horizon
ever out of reach
–
hoary grass-
the sky aglow in
morning twilight

by the temple gates
burning incense left as a
simple offering
–
hot springs-
steam rising from
the snow monkeys

death comes unbidden-
a brief pause before leaving
to collect his due
–
icicles-
melting in
the winer sun