Sound – Page 2 – Iron Haiku

a willow’s caress-
snow laden branches reach down
to stroke the water
–
frozen stones-
roiling water
skinned in ice

weary of donning
this mask, this gown, these gloves, I
once more go to work
–
hospital corridors-
the white noise
of dying

the soft eastern sky-
treetops gilded in copper
frame the rising sun
–
daybreak-
the furnace and I
struggle to wake up

standing by the sink-
I feel the warmth from your feet
on the bathroom floor
–
lost in your dreams-
I silence my alarm
before it wakes you

brought forth from the ice-
my tarnished battle armor
deeply scarred from use
–
far from the cherry blossoms-
the clarion call
of battle

seventh floor walk up-
down in the street feral cats
howl in the moonlight
–
stuck to my sheets-
the only breeze
from a passing train

linens on the line-
warm peals of children’s laughter
waft in on the breeze
–
wicker baskets-
a coffee can of
broken clothespins

highway median-
long neglected grasses sway
with the passing cars
–
towering light pole-
a red tailed hawk
spots it’s prey

whitewashed beach shanties-
a path of crushed coral ends
at the ebbing tide
–
salt air-
a gull’s cry
above the surf

the lamplighter’s mac-
a thin scrim of london fog
coats the cobblestones
–
horseshoes-
echoes off
stone walls