Sound – Page 21 – Iron Haiku

Smith

muscle and sinew-
soot stained and glistening from
the heat of the forge
–
shimmering heat-
the cold ring of
hammer on steel

a cool morning breeze-
silver waves ripple across
unmown fields of grass
–
gulls over the beach-
cattails bowed to
the rising sun

walking from the train
a soft rain begins to wash
off the day’s burdens
–
eyes closed-
rocked to sleep
among strangers

telling ghost stories-
embers on the rising smoke
mixing with the stars
–
distant howls-
another log
feeds the fire

sedona night skies-
a desert scorpion crawls
across my bedroll
–
campfire-
embers rise to greet
the desert stars

weeping cherry trees
pink and white blossoms sodden
with the sudden rain
–
spring rains-
dogwood blooms
floating by

just before sunrise-
my tea steeps as a vixen
calls out to her kits
–
plumes of breath-
a young doe
hides her fawn

a whole life reduced
to two dust covered and scuffed
satchels by her feet
–
cold desert night-
the tent offers
poor respite

cobblestone sidewalks-
birds nest in the thatch roofs of
tudor cottages
–
spring afternoon-
warm hours spent
deadheading roses

late afternoon breeze-
a cardinal feeds his mate
seeds from my garden
–
morning sunlight-
dogwood brides
dressed in white