Light – Page 33 – Iron Haiku

deep in the pine boughs-
a cardinal dusted with
the season’s first snow
–
winter solstice
the last leaf falls
on fresh snow

driving past the farm
hummocks of mulch lie steaming
in the morning sun
–
leafless trees-
mist rises above
the duck pond

winter is coming-
it seems only yesterday
the trees were in bloom
–
the forest-
awake under a
blanket of snow

with the rising sun
the smell of coffee clears the
cobwebs from my mind
–
smoldering campfire-
I blow on the
overnight coals

winter in the air-
unmown fields of autumn grass
yellowed by the sun
–
looking up-
snowflakes on
your lashes

my eyelids heavy
weighed down by lies from the past
that I can’t escape
–
dark skies-
mountain rains
flood the valley

running through the woods
peep frogs fall silent as I
pass by unannounced
–
frozen breath-
the sun rises
to greet me

goose down sleeping bags
the morning mist rises as
we share the sunrise
–
breaking sunlight-
our bedroom window
kissed by frost

alone in my room-
I can only feel safe when
no one’s allowed in
–
dying light-
the forest
changes

black potbellied stove-
the evening’s load of firewood
stacked up along side
–
stars in the sand-
our fire stoked
by the ocean breeze