Shadow – Iron Haiku

absent mourning doves-
I wander aimless around
this cold empty house
–
twelve years gone-
still missing your
hair in the sink

opalescent clouds-
shadows on the moonlit snow
cast by trees long dead
–
dying embers-
in the dark I become
the falling snow

weary of donning
this mask, this gown, these gloves, I
once more go to work
–
hospital corridors-
the white noise
of dying

herons in the reeds-
crabs hide under stones after
the overnight rain
–
river rocks-
barbel catfish lurk
in the shadows

frigid midnight winds-
the moon smears lampblack shadows
on the virgin snow
–
wolf moon-
winter berries
turn to ash

wrought iron street lamps-
ancient cobblestones vanish
in the rising fog
–
echos of hooves-
a hansom cab
lost in the mist

rails shrouded in fog-
a ghost train departs beneath
the approaching dawn
–
sunrise shadows-
nascent snow cradled in
dry autumn leaves

encroaching midnight-
the doomsday clock poised to toll
humanity’s dirge
–
pools of red wax-
guttering candles
cast their meager light

honeysuckle wine-
content letting the front porch
host my slow decline
–
passing cars-
an afghan shrouds
her empty rocker

under a shade elm
I leave a small stone marking
the site of my grave
–
cut white lilies-
so casually
discarded