Winter – Page 14 – Iron Haiku

Fog

snow on the gravestones-
the caretaker’s lantern swings
haloed in the fog
–
moonlit snow-
fog sprawls
across the road

driving through the night
the asphalt beneath my wheels
becomes slick with snow
–
my future-
lost in the oncoming
headlights

an empty barstool-
I decide to take a risk
on conversation
–
empty glasses-
my napkin
torn to shreds

a golden buddha
in quiet contemplation
half buried in snow
–
gentle snow-
singing bowls
fall silent

bright silver moonlight
streaming in through the skylight
pooling on the floor
–
quicksilver-
the full moon
above the trees

crimson fingernails
lightly drawn along my skin
leaving ghostly trails
–
rain streaked windows-
we agree
on safe words

I placed you upon
a pedestal and now you’re
far beyond my reach
–
the house dark-
a distant moon
through the skylight

an early March snow-
past time for pulling up roots
and moving along
–
stinging rain-
I return to find
an empty home

tiny wisps of light
at the edge of the forest
dancing in the dark
–
the nighttime sea-
distant sirens
in the dark

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