Fall – Page 31 – Iron Haiku

dwelling in the past-
bricked up in this house of pain
my arm, my jailer
–
a wasp’s sting-
repeated lies
no longer told

iron seas and skies
sailing into the north wind
my face to the rain
–
solitude-
my paddle dips
into glassy water

eaten alive, wedged
in the belly of the beast
resigned to his fate
–
roaring water-
the spawning grounds
await upstream

much have I witnessed
during my earthly journey
and I am humbled
–
etched in stone-
recounting our
shared history

an aging oak tree-
all our sins laid bare beneath
the outstretched branches
–
a shoe in the grass-
the tire swing
motionless

the sky badly bruised
sitting beneath the mottled
colors of sundown
–
roiling-
iron clouds
hanging low

with the setting sun
purple ink spreads across the
paper of the night
–
coming darkness-
the ravens gather
on my roof

picking at breakfast
sitting across the table
from the ghost of you
–
wilted flowers-
your whisper
in my ear

the day’s work is done
a blanket of fog settles
over bleaching bones
–
curling water-
the soft rattle
of empty shells

ebony leaves strewn
across an indigo sky
fading out to black
–
moonless-
the warm glow
of a distant fire