Sadness – Page 17 – Iron Haiku

ashen metal sky-
slowly rolling cattle cars
descend into hell
–
chain link fence-
the walking dead
in black and white

overnight snowfall
blankets the desert landscape
of sand and sagebrush
–
condors overhead-
remnants of snow
in cactus shadows

a whole life reduced
to two dust covered and scuffed
satchels by her feet
–
cold desert night-
the tent offers
poor respite

the bathroom door locked –
water covers the threshold
soaking the carpet
–
echos in the hallway-
your phone goes
straight to voice mail

one thing is certain-
with the taxes completed
l just wait for death
–
lights dim-
a life’s debt
repaid

writing in the dark-
I dip my pen into the
inkwell of the night
–
a forest path-
fallen trees
turn to dust

the slow push of surf-
a lighthouse in the distance
obscured by the fog
–
distant foghorns
cairns lost
to the tide

tiger lilies bloom-
last year’s fallen leaves begin
dancing with the wind
–
crocus blooms –
a young robin
in my birdbath

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

rust stained porcelain-
hard metallic drips echo
off the bathroom sink
–
far from sleep-
the dripping faucet
maddening