Asahi Haiku Network, 2025

In Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Hifsa Ashraf shuddered. Compare her three lines below to these penned in 1923 by D.H. Lawrence: Never swallows! Bats! The swallows are gone.

dead of night--
bats emerging
from the moon

Published in ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

December 05, 2025

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16196449

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solitary stroll--
shrouding the naked trees
autumn fog

Published in ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
Oct 31, 2025

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16119716

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disputed neighbourhood
the dry leaves gather
around the shared fence

Published in ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
Aug 01, 2025

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15927504

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barking dogs
shifting our conflicts
from home to neighbours

Published in ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
May 30, 2025

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15787975

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old snow the layers of silence within
 
Published in ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
February 21, 2025

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15632135

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wishful thinking

one after another

snowflakes

 

Published on January 31, 2025 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15602945

Asahi Haiku Network, 2024

midsummer sky the face of my blues

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

June 21, 2024

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candlelight vigil

flicker in the eyes
blue flames


blue lagoon reshaping my daydreams

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
May 31, 2024 and republished in July 19 2024

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2023

home alone
the house sparrow’s
missing chirp

December 29, Asahi Haikuist Network

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deep forest
the low notes
of a nightingale’s song

December 15, Asahi Haikuist Network

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autumn symphony
a swirl of leaves
around the old trunk

November 17, Asahi Haikuist Network

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counting on
the spring breeze
first date

March 17, Asahi Haikuist Network

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blossom wind
whispers in my ears
the love song 

March 3, Asahi Haikuist Network

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valentine’s day--

a heart shaped cloud
walks me home

February 17, Asahi Haikuist Network

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2022

rare family dinner
the chili flakes sizzle
in the sunflower oil

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

September 16, 2022

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family reunion
a layer of soybean oil
on the chicken curry

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
September 2, 2022

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fall sky
in full bloom
the Japanese maple

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
April 1, 2022

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solitary walk 

paving my way 

the maple leaves

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
March 4, 2022

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moving day 

a fist full 

of snowflakes

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

January 21st, 2022

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first snow--

the dandelion stalk 

blooms again

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

January 7th, 2022

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2021

departing memories 

hoarfrost on the door 

carves his palms

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

December 31st, 2021

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trophy hunting
dripping in the trough
crimson icicles

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reaping rice 

the lingering smell 

of grandma’s pudding 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

December 3rd, 2021

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old letter box 

gathers more dust 

winter twilight

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

November 19th, 2021

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harvest day
cut through the wheat stalks 

a flock of sparrows 

midsummer 

the harvest wind weaves 

through the wheat stalks

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

October 29th, 2021

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bamboo forest

where we met last time

old flute songs

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

October 1st, 2021

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moving day… I walk alpine moon back to the valley

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

September 17, 2021

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late departure--
I attune to the songs
of a nightingale

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

September 3, 2021

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Sufi meditation-- 

from the rock crevice 

a cascading waterfall

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

May 21, 2021

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evening zikr…

I come across

my real shadow

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

April 2, 2021

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hu mantra-- 

the waterfall’s rainbow 

reflects my aura

April 30, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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spring breeze 

whirls the white rose 

dervish dance

April 16, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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evening zikr…
I come across
my real shadow

April 2, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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year of the Ox

I make peace

with the cold sun

February 5, 2021

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun

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year of the Ox 

avoiding 

the scarlet sky 

January 29, 2021

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun

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early spring…
the aroma of roti
from a clay oven

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new year eve...
the maple leaves swirl
around the emergency ward


ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
January 15, 2021

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2020

relief camp …

the tiny mounds

of bread and soil

 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun
December 18, 2020

 

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carrion’s call...
a half-eaten loaf of bread
outside the camp

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun
November 30, 2020

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hazy lights

across the street

ghost’s eyes

 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

October 30, 2020

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pine tree silhouette
across the river
my inner demons

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

October 16, 2020

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ragged flag
on the border post
a ghost’s fingers

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
September 4, 2020

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first summer rain
a sinkhole reflects
the day moon

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
July 17, 2020

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unclogging
my evening thoughts
sprouts on a pavement


window gazing
the extra glow
of a river moon

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

June 19, 2020

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icicles
dripping my sorrows
drop by drop

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hospice garden …
she collects the loose petals
of magnolia blossom

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
February 21, 2020

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under snow 

dried Pipal leaves 

a dreamless night 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
February 7, 2020


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new year night … 

the young boy resets 

constellations

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
February 1, 2020

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deep winter 

hoarfrost on attic window 

etching the sky

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
January 17, 2020

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2019

last train 
a ghost in the storybook 
reincarnated

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long night
an endless debate
with my inner demons

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray, December 20, 2019

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haunted night
the polythene bags rustle
on a bare tree

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray, December 6, 2019 

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fireside story
every shadow
becomes alive

November 15, 2019 ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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overtime alone

the coffee froth slowly

becomes a ghost

November 1, 2019

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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rainwater pond
the ripples lost
in the sunlight


October 18, 2019 
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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parched land 

a refugee child jumps 

from patch to patch

October 4, 2019
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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sweltering day
the loud sound
of the dripping tap

August 2, 2019
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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shooting star--
the new year wishes
disappear in mist 

Featured on February 15, 2019
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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new year night …
the young boy resets
constellations

February 1, 2019
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

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cold moon
the bare tree branch
turns into a crow

December 21, 2018
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray