Snow – Page 13 – Iron Haiku

History

bitter grievances
at the holiday table
long past time for peace
–
unrelenting
a winter river
choked with ice

waiting for the thaw
beneath fallen leaves and snow
a box turtle sleeps
–
frosted windows-
deeply burrowed
under blankets

early morning haze
the pale tint of the full moon
just above the trees
–
first light-
the fog and I
rise together

contemplating life
and remembering the dead
this cold winter night
–
the cutting north wind-
heavily laden with
bitter freight

absent sounds of night
muffled by the blanket of
winter’s arrival
–
sudden snow
a southbound flight
interrupted

waiting for the train
a low mournful whistle drones
off in the distance
–
an iron sky
heavy snow falls
on distant peaks

air laced with woodsmoke
thick with a rich silence as
the rain turns to snow
–
twilight
listening to
the snow fall

jewel in the lotus
tibetan prayer wheels turned by
cascades of water
–
a winter dawn
snow skates across
the temple threshold

ice over fresh snow
the delicate crust holds me
momentarily
–
warm green grass
a raindrop rolls
down my cheek

the low morning sun
behind a red crepe myrtle
it’s branches aflame
–
fresh snow
blowing alight the coals
of last nights fire