Faith – Page 18 – Iron Haiku

Promise

strangers on a bus
the empty seat next to you
very enticing
–
barefoot in the grass-
your hair falling
across my shoulder

deafening silence
our civil ramparts falling
amidst the chaos
–
spring rain-
roaring floods muted
underwater

alabaster hills
cherry blossoms harken to
the first blush of spring
–
snowdrops-
a hint of cherry
on your lips

looking at myself
amid the twisted wreckage
of my ruined car
–
mourning doves-
lost in the white
of the winter sky

standing before you
silent and overexposed
awaiting judgement
–
whitecaps-
riding the edge
of an avalanche

swallowing my doubts
returning day after day
in case you wake up
–
patchwork sunlight-
I brush the sleep
from your lips

on the precipice
staring out into the void
and back at myself
–
barren branches-
a great horned owl
spreads her wings

left in a doorway
the simple offering of
a small jade Buddha
–
the slanting sun-
putting to bed the
last work of the day

guttering gas lamps
weakly lighting the platform
where she waits, in vain
–
the scent of jasmine-
a silent stream
turns to ice

a sprit of fire
shining brightly in the night
dowsed before it’s time
–
all at once-
the dancing flame
now only smoke