Life – Page 96 – Iron Haiku

walking side by side
my constant companion long
before I met you
–
ebb tide-
our footprints
in the sand

iron seas and skies
sailing into the north wind
my face to the rain
–
solitude-
my paddle dips
into glassy water

eaten alive, wedged
in the belly of the beast
resigned to his fate
–
roaring water-
the spawning grounds
await upstream

mired in my fears
a prisoner of what was
slave to what might be
–
hawk’s shadow
into a deadfall
a rabbit tail

acrid smoke rising
the ruins of our marriage
burned and smoldering
–
twilight-
our wedding vows
worn and tarnished

empty eyes soulless-
sliding down the razors edge
between life and death
–
soft rattles-
promises of release
in the tall grass

butterfly kisses
half asleep on my shoulder
soft breath in my ear
–
cool breeze-
your tears
slowly drying

awake and alone
the contours of your body
still fresh in my sheets
–
a startled thrush-
impressions left
in the tall grass

faces of the dead
constantly with me waiting
for my eyes to close
–
lost souls-
the silence
of the fen

the great blue heron
gently gliding just above
its own reflection
–
standing water-
a perfect sky
at my feet