Love – Page 10 – Iron Haiku

muscle and sinew-
soot stained and glistening from
the heat of the forge
–
shimmering heat-
the cold ring of
hammer on steel

just before sunrise-
my tea steeps as a vixen
calls out to her kits
–
plumes of breath-
a young doe
hides her fawn

early morning dew-
clusters of tulips push through
last year’s matted leaves
–
an iron gate-
roses twined around
our postbox

rid of you at last
cut from where you’d gotten lodged
just under my skin
–
last year’s maple leaves-
splinters from a
prior life

a towering oak-
our initials in a heart
carved into the trunk
–
sunset park-
the bench where
we first met

a warm rain ended-
softened sunlight drizzles down
to the forest floor
–
dawn breaks-
sunlight arrives
unannounced

dark basement staircase-
the heady scent of baked bread
wafts down from above
–
golden light-
brown buttered toast
and black coffee

wind at the windows-
as I move to tend the fire
the cat takes my seat
–
late winter morn-
my calico sleeps
in a patch of sun

clutching thoughts and prayers
while we let those who suffer
slip through our fingers
–
predawn chill-
sleeping children
suddenly fatherless

the first day we met
your perfect little fingers
wrapped around my thumb
–
laundromat-
your clothes tumble
next to mine