Animal – Page 30 – Iron Haiku

Battle

curling up in pain
the taste of salt on my lips
from licking my wounds
–
echoes-
broken antlers on
the forest floor

staring at myself
I see that I have become
what I feared the most
–
predawn-
coming awake
in a stranger’s mind

floating alone on
an odd patch of flat water
in amidst the waves
–
open windows-
a raven shelters
from the storm

years of wasted time
of opportunities lost
and then you were gone
–
ancient water-
black scales sink
beneath the surface

driving down the road
catching a glimpse of my wife
in the passing train.
–
flat water-
migrating geese
pass overhead

subtle subversions
deflection, misdirection-
tools of the liar
–
a rocky stream-
mockingbirds
in the wood

autumn afternoons-
leaves plucked from swaying branches
dancing in the breeze
–
overcast-
shark scales
above my head

glowing in the dark
the distant lights, reflections
off Jamaica bay
–
twilight-
each firefly
tells a story

I may be different
but I am not a problem
that needs to be solved
–
fly fishing-
different clouds
under the same sky

autumn mornings spent
polishing the temple bells
as the sun rises
–
robins-
footprints in
the morning dew