Shadow – Page 19 – Iron Haiku

corrupted and vile
poisonous invasive roots
unwilling to yield
–
oblivious-
wandering into
a nest of vipers

a fleeting moment
captured in a photograph
when we were in love
–
a glass of wine-
this shoebox full
of torn photos

a cold waiting room-
absolutely terrified
of what will come next
–
eyes closed-
the taste of salt
in my veins

under crushing debt
the future turns to ashes
swept by our children
–
wild fire-
fed by embers
on the wind

thousands of moments
the taste of a prior life
memories of you
–
late winter-
pockmarks
in the snow

eyes looking inward
staring into the darkness
barely held at bay
–
cleansing breaths-
the forest
whispers

coruscating snow
slithers across the highway
hastened by the wind
–
morning sun-
cherry blossoms
in the snow

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

in the dead of night
the monster under my bed
turns out to be me
–
skeletal branches-
the window framing
unfounded fears

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