Water – Page 29 – Iron Haiku

pleading for my life-
attempting to atone for
the wrongs that I’ve done
–
morning dew-
my sins cast
upon the water

violent currents
slake their thirst with sailor’s lives
by the gates of hell
–
jagged ice-
ancient wrecks
litter the narrows

a golden eagle-
soaring as the sun sinks on
a cumbrian lake
–
reflections-
autumn leaves
in the water

crabs in the shallows-
a hidden sandbar barely
revealed by the tide
–
onshore breeze-
knots of seaweed
drying in the sun

I won’t bet my life
on a roll of the dice but
I’ll take my chances
–
parting clouds-
hoof prints
in the damp soil

rough fisherman’s hands
haul up the day’s catch under
a mackerel sky
–
circling hawks-
shark skin clouds
promising rain

howling in the night
a cold wind pounds on my door
straining the hinges
–
black rain-
branches scrape
my darkened window

in the stinging rain
waiting by the library
for the doors to open
–
sleeping rough-
water from the downspout
soaking his coat

under thick brambles
a stream runs through an arch
in an old stone wall
–
empty talons-
a chipmunk
avoids its fate

the smell of sea salt
carried on the inland wind
by dangerous storms
–
flying fish-
on the bowsprit
the sea in her hair