February 2020 – Iron Haiku

sight not born of eyes-
I see every detail of
the shape of your soul
–
winter morning-
the smell of your pipe
still lingers

married to the road-
leaving you for months on end
for my asphalt bride
–
ragtop down-
the highway
a siren’s song

against my interests-
I trade away my future
in lieu of my soul
–
a piercing gaze-
my breast
laid bare

slowly cooling sheets
echoes of the alarm clock-
bare traces of you
–
cold sunrise-
I wake up
alone

the forest silent-
a skeletal hand rises
from the black water
–
winter’s death-
dwelling beneath
dark brackish waters

afternoon sunlight
casting long winter shadows
through the evergreens
–
woodland trails-
a scrim of ice
underfoot

terra cotta bricks-
the desert sunset lights up
an old bell tower
–
adobe twilight-
the slowly cooling
desert sand

looking for a score-
wandering the neighborhood
peering in windows
–
quarter past one-
a raccoon
in my garden

hackles standing up
prowling the streets in darkness
looking for a fight
–
captured moonlight-
eyes blazing
in the dark

the promise of spring
pushing through the morning snow-
unopened blossoms
–
morning coffee-
powdered sugar
on my crossword