Hunger – Page 10 – Iron Haiku

War

twisting in my sleep
I smell the blood and cordite
and lotus flowers
–
torrential rain-
countless lost
to take a hill

the creak of hinges-
curtains drawn against the light

rising in the east

–
fading daylight-
the rustle of
leathery wings

well before sunrise
the clamor of rubbish bins
echoes in my sleep
–
venus rising-
masked bandits
steal my trash

the scent of rabbit
coaxes the fox from her den
and into the snow
–
late winter-
fresh snow
on the deadfall

damp and feverish-
a restful sleep eludes me
on this bed of coals
–
noonday sun-
ice in my glass
long turned to water

a pile of old clothes-
years of living on the street
etched deep in her face
–
dirty snow-
sleep arrives on
a cardboard box

a cold rain falling-
trying to stay warm with tales
of wine and whiskey
–
white mountains-
caribou freeze
at a cracking branch

with a poisoned pen
I write stories in the blood
of the innocent
–
desert sagebrush-
rattlesnakes hidden
in plain sight

I catch your eye as

we pass each other by but

you’re out of my league

–

noonday sun-

lions stalking

in the tall grass

the hours before dawn

I wake to your skin on mine

under the duvet

–

winter’s breath-

maple leaves

under fresh snow