Winter – Page 34 – Iron Haiku

horror on parade
the fires of war march on while
death wields the baton
–
a murder of crows-
five men lower
their rifles

the sounds of fresh snow
falling in the near darkness
sibilant whispers
–
snowfall-
lost in quiet
conversation

dark rolling water
a rusty buoy’s hollow bell
tolls across the night
–
split rail fence-
a congregation
of cowbells

lazy curls of steam
glowing in the rays of the
slanting winter sun
–
the north wind-
warming my hands
on a hot cup of tea

on a gilded throne
far from the unwashed masses
counting his money
–
gauzy clouds-
spreading gold
on the ocean

dark autumn’s collapse
the strongest and tallest trees
were the first to fall
–
velvet shadows-
deep hollows
where winter lies

long ago I was
your knight in shining armor
now I’m just tarnished
–
rusted hinges-
an old mare
out to pasture

my view, distorted
looking up from the bottom
of this hole I’ve dug
–
a rimy pond-
peering up through
frozen cataracts

cold drops of silver
spill into the open mouth
of the crescent moon
–
starlight-
a barn owl glides
through leafless trees

standing before you
silent and overexposed
awaiting judgement
–
whitecaps-
riding the edge
of an avalanche