Winter – Page 3 – Iron Haiku

Change

lost in the mirror-
years collecting on the floor
‘neath the barber’s chair
–
wading-
knee deep
in the past

a cold water flat-
the pilot light on the stove
sputters and goes out
–
new year’s eve-
the rent check
overdue

the soft light of dawn-
dim street lamps gutter above
aging cobblestones
–
threads of smoke-
last nights embers
turn to ash

unexpected snow-
an onshore breeze silently
stirs the bulrushes
–
ebb tide-
snow falls gently
on the salt marsh

bright mid-winter stars-
your alabaster shoulders
dressed by the ghost moon
–
rumpled sheets-
asleep intertwined
blanketed by the moon

the senbazuru-
origami alchemy
brings my cranes to life
–
parchment skin –
rice paper slowly
creased and folded

hard edged and soulless-
the treacherous dawn comes to
spirit you away
–
softly closing doors-
again I awake
to an empty bed

february wind-
red cheeks burning from a cold
slap across the face
–
digging out-
melting snow
mingles with sweat

horizontal snow-
sparrows visit my feeder
heedless of the storm
–
rime crusted wings-
a short respite
on my lilac

dry and brittle leaves-
remnants of an early fall
captive in the snow
–
crisp white linens-
leaves tumble
in the wind