Shadow – Page 28 – Iron Haiku

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

searching for a trace
of the light behind your eyes
but making my peace
–
afterimage-
the candle
doused

I’ve struggled so long
stumbling through the darkness
blinded by the truth
–
awakening-
the light of
a false dawn

thoughts of the fallen-
those who purchased our freedoms
with their flesh and blood
–
old glory-
a red haze blinding
the dogs of war

wandering the earth
easing pain and suffering
collecting last breaths
–
a copse of trees-
bones
amid the litter

time draws to a close-
I hold his hand, helping him
walk across this bridge
–
a pale horse-
the onus
of these souls

working down towards
the bottom of a bottle
searching for solace
–
after the rain-
a raven
hewn from coal

roadmaps of black veins
crawl across her damaged arms
recording the hits
–
sheer bliss-
a wasp amid
the rose stems

the long autumn sun
shining through the turning leaves
of October trees
–
frosted windows-
winter morning light
spreads across my floor

freshly turned earth falls
from the back of my shovel
burying the light
–
overcast skies-
a tenuous flame
turns to smoke