April 2018 – Iron Haiku

a cool cloudy night-
the horizon aglow with
fingers of lighting
–
dry lightning-
fire licks the walks
of the arroyo

warm and supple light-
long trails of candle wax drip
and pool on the floor
–
candlelight-
shadows buffeted
by the wind

in a farmer’s wall
amid the moss and loose stones
frogs sing in the night
–
crickets-
rain traces
stone to stone

up above the fray
just outside of the spotlight
he tugs on the strings
–
a rumpled hat-
his marionette dances
for loose change

in the dark shadows
cobwebs cling to memories
of a distant past
–
winter stubble-
remnants of
my father

as the fog rolls in
skeletons of spectral trees
fade into the night
–
foggy evening-
gnarled branches
scratch at my window

as the sun rises
I try once more to forget
the sins of my past
–
spring evening-
frogs still
as I walk past

years of my life spent
in the futile pursuit of
bubbe’s chicken soup
–
easy rain-
sandwiches and
tomato soup

slices of the moon
slivered through the window blinds
drape across your back
–
snowy owl-
cold branches
in the dead of night

a stash of acorns
squirreled away for safekeeping
in a hollow tree
–
bird feeder-
spring daffodils
seek the sun