Shadow – Page 29 – Iron Haiku

a guttering flame
struggling to hold the wick
before going out
–
roiling clouds-
searing winds blow
the grasslands ablaze

every nerve exposed-
in the comfort of her mind
she shuts out the world
–
long afternoon shadows-
an old rocking horse
threadbare and faded

fresh blood on my lips
my kiss, a thief in the night
stealing your warm breath
–
ruby throat, emerald wings-
sliding in and out of
warm honeysuckles

living with strangers-
years torn from my memory
replayed day by day
–
dimming light-
a quiet place
to lay my head

sunset through the trees
one final glory beneath
the coming of night
–
rising shadows-
silhouettes against
the dusky sky

tendrils of ground fog
seep down into the lowlands
just before the dawn
–
melting snow-
a silver crescent
in the mist

washing and scrubbing
under this scalding water
still I can’t come clean
–
coal smoke-
a cardinal
on the snow

machine oiled blued steel
the weight of it heavier
than I expected
–
ice on the rocks-
another shot
added to my burden

living night to night
afraid of my own shadow
lest I feel the sun
–
crying gulls-
a distant sandbar
bakes in the sun

I still feel you here
disturbing the emptiness
well after you’re gone
–
thunderclouds-
hard rain off
the tin roof