June 2020 – Iron Haiku

seeking inner peace-
silently blessing all those
who would do me ill
–
approaching dawn-
tea and birdsong
refills my soul

milkweed in the wind-
beside the ancient live oak
I bury our bones
–
a lonesome gong-
pale wisps of trees
fade in the mist

lavender shadows-
flowers from a tuscan yard
in a patch of sun
–
cardinal songs-
a sun flower
turns its head

the dawning solstice-
children of the earth and sky
taste the rising sun
–
pheasant’s eyes-
ghosts of stone men
herald the sun

an old farmers sink-
her mind miles away from the
blood in the carpet
–
back garden soil-
no amount of soap
makes her feel clean

under summer stars-
in the fading moonlight she
could almost be you
–
iron skies-
across the piazza
you become the crowd

black america
locked inside the golden door
yearning to breathe free
–
hot city streets-
new seedlings break
through the concrete

vultures overhead-
circling waiting before
feasting on the dead
–
red skies-
a tempest
at our door