Sadness – Page 33 – Iron Haiku

a vial of poison-
reminiscences of you
held up to my lips
–
desert skies-
reflections of death
in the watering hole

at once of two worlds-
straddling the razor’s edge
between life and death
–
winter sun-
the hawk’s shadow
grows smaller

packed commuter train
a stranger’s breath on my neck
making my skin crawl
–
rising darkness-
the files close
and I’m alone

I wear this body
as shroud around my soul
woven from my life
–
lemon blossoms-
rain darkens
a terra cotta pot

I wake to nothing
but the impression of you
left in my mattress
–
cold sweat-
twisted in
my bedsheets

I close my eyes and
before sleep overtakes me
I pray for those I’ve killed
–
fireworks-
earplugs in
a darkened room

dark menacing skies
downed trees and power lines-
the storm overhead
–
brooding clouds-
wolves bay
in the distance

blind and deaf old men
sit in darkened boardrooms and
beat the drums of war
–
black water-
death waiting
on the far bank

on the village green
the hollow toll of church bells
ringing out the dead
–
frozen earth-
grave diggers toil
into the night

deep under water
looking back at the surface
as I sink farther
–
valentines day-
ice cracks
beneath my feet