Life – Page 91 – Iron Haiku

your small fragile hand
once grasped so tightly in mine
now a hardened fist
–
clear blue sky-
learning to fly
on the way down

moving through the crowd
the air fetid and stinking
rancid in the heat
–
underground-
pushing in
before the close

out of the shadows
and into the light of day
burning in the sun
–
august sun-
wreaths of flowers
wilting by the roadside

the lust for power
buried in the hearts of men
exhumed far too soon
–
hesitation-
the sharp crack
of thin ice

telling my story
words spilling off of my tongue
and into your ears
–
snowfall-
the chasm
of a blank page

history lessons-
hard fought wisdom wasted on
those who will not learn
–
melting ice-
unwilling to accept
being this path

low afternoon sun-
the play of shadow and light
against your bare skin
–
under the sheets-
between us
the midnight sun

surrounded by friends
sitting around the campfire
retelling old tales
–
clearing skies-
broken branches
new neighbors

from across the beach-
the hollow silver ring of
a turtle drum band
–
a cold red stripe-
cabana lights
gently sway

naked in the sun
draped in caribbean light
among the seashells
–
abalone-
the warm glow
of auburn skin