Crows and Other Haiku

Crows spiral, clatter
leaving the brown marsh behind
fade into blue sky


Branch slips out of snow
reddish bark left wet, naked
swaying in cold sun


Eyes frozen open
snow-blind creatures follow scent
water flows below


Numb hand reaches out
frozen water pummels head
scent of fear rising


Taut as an old drum
canvas wrapped like a white shawl
haze of cedar smoke


Snake sunning on path
thoughtless step triggers recoil
slither to safety


Flow rushes, arching
submerged log across brown stream
bird calls fill the air


Whitewater roars by
cold snowmelt carving canyon
large, flat stone watching


Bird song in morning
oak scrub’s tangled flow rolls down
moon slowly setting


Favorite river spot
green moss grows on rock in stream
not often submerged


Cacti blooms one day
columbine flowers the next
sigh, but no mushrooms


Fluff floating through air
landing everywhere, dead spots
one grows into tree


Grasshoppers flying
rogue branch grows out long, bending
prickly pears spreading


Ancient reminders
molten snapshots trapped in time
caught in flagrante


Deep rills fingers probe
away from screaming, bird song
deadened heart opens

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