Water – Page 17 – Iron Haiku

low distant thunder-
the smell of fall in the air
as the rain rolls in
–
sleeping cats-
outside the rain
turns to sleet

a warm autumn glow-
dawn clouds steeped in honey spill
across the ocean
–
daybreak-
sunlight dances
on the wave tops

open before me
the pages of my journal
blank and foreboding
–
onshore winds-
sand and shells
in the roiling surf

an autumn sunset-
the shadow of a goshawk
long on the meadow
–
oak leaves-
slipping below
a covered bridge

I can’t sleep at all
visions of the restless dead
inhabit my dreams
–
moon shadows-
a raven robed
in cobwebs

brown rivers swollen-
remnants of our prior lives
piled up in the streets
–
autumn sun-
in my living room
the black waterline

no one’s allowed in-
there’s only room for me in
this suit of armor
–
swift water-
armored scales
dimple the surface

a placid trout stream-
three old fishermen stand casting
amid the lilies
–
light rain-
three koi hide
under the bridge

rumbling through the dark
long trains roll westbound under
thunder and lightning
–
drying hay-
the countryside
glides past

I may seem nice but
if I had my way I’d carve
the meat from your bones
–
desperate thirst-
lions in the
tall grass