Fall – Page 23 – Iron Haiku

heads bowed in respect
under an overcast sky
the flag at half mast
–
rising winds-
halyards ring
the flagpole

filling the valley-
bright sunlight captured in the
autumn morning mist
–
slanted sunlight-
in the canyon
a river of fog

november evening-
skeletal trees charcoal black
in the fading light
–
graveyard’s edge-
bone fingers
in the mist

you can take my heart
and do with it what you will
I’m finished with it
–
driftwood-
sand dunes
strewn by the wind

as the door closes
I wonder if you’ll ever
walk through it again
–
midnight-
the rustle of leaves
in an empty street

eyes closed, steady breaths-
trying to push the anger
back into the box
–
boiling seas-
lava slowly turns
to cold stone

ashes and embers-
my gentle caress lingers
barely on your lips
–
cold glass-
the distance
of your touch

most of my life spent
standing by the water’s edge
never getting wet
–
ashen skies-
in a barrel of rain
my reflection

tattered autumn lace
drifting in the morning air
lofted by the breeze
–
leaf litter-
tulip poplars
shed their skin

gentle drops of rain
fall from the trees to collect
on my upturned face
–
quiet water-
minnows surface
beneath my shadow