Shadow – Page 27 – Iron Haiku

roaring bonfires burn-
shadows of ancient stones paint
the salisbury plain
–
waning daylight-
a crow stands guard
over those long dead

the time worn tombstones
children taken far too soon
their stories untold
–
a cardinal takes wing-
poppy blossoms
in the church yard

alone on the dock-
staring into the remnants
of the setting sun
–
skipping stones-
bats take wing
before the moon

last minute details
awhirl with activity
all before we leave
–
fog rolling in
light rain falling
obscuring the jetway

mired in my fears
a prisoner of what was
slave to what might be
–
hawk’s shadow
into a deadfall
a rabbit tail

empty eyes soulless-
sliding down the razors edge
between life and death
–
soft rattles-
promises of release
in the tall grass

faces of the dead
constantly with me waiting
for my eyes to close
–
lost souls-
the silence
of the fen

the great blue heron
gently gliding just above
its own reflection
–
standing water-
a perfect sky
at my feet

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

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