Cold – Page 44 – Iron Haiku

Widows

beauty and horror
entwined around each other
in a spider’s web
–
morning mist-
time passes
red on black

forced conversation-
a glance at his empty chair
then awkward silence
–
oddly quiet-
the azure sky
free of birds

trapped by bitter cold
prison bars of leafless trees
holding me steadfast
–
spring snow-
steaming tea
fogs the window

one final look back
collar turned up against the
horizontal rain
–
spring peepers-
the rain of snare drums
on the forest floor

the long autumn sun
shining through the turning leaves
of October trees
–
frosted windows-
winter morning light
spreads across my floor

a lone egret stands
beneath a spreading chestnut
sheltered from the rain
–
thunder snow-
after images of
white lighting

freshly turned earth falls
from the back of my shovel
burying the light
–
overcast skies-
a tenuous flame
turns to smoke

you are my center-
the sky above my head and
ground beneath my feet
–
autumn leaves-
take from me the
very air I breathe

walking in the tide
my temporary footprints
too soon forgotten
–
gentle flurries-
fresh tracks lead
to the birdbath

whole conversations
pass with just a knowing glance
incomplete silence
–
a heartbeat-
one moment
our lifetime