Cattails, 2026

winter chill—
the gargoyle's mouth
stuffed with snow


—سردی کی ڻھنڈ
ایک شکلی پرنالے کا منہ
برف سے بھرا ہوا

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hometown station—
the train whistle fades
into a chai vendor’s call


—آبائی قصبے کےاسڻیشن پر 
ریل گاڑی کی سیڻی مدھم پڑ جاتی ہے
چائے فروش کی صدا میں

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rubble dust
on the land
settles in
what remains
after losing all


ملبے کا غبار
خطے میں
بس جاتا ہے
جو کچھ باقی رہتا ہے
سب کچھ کھونے کے بعد


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Cattails, April 2026

http://www.cattailsjournal.com/issues/cattails261.pdf

Cattails, 2025

cemetery banyan 

the tangled roots 

of an old grief

forced migration— 

the lingering warmth 

of mom’s hugs 

Published in Cattails, October 2025

http://www.cattailsjournal.com/issues/cattails252.pdf

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forest thaw
the many dialects
of cawing

haiku section of Cattails


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morning blues the melting glaciers in my eyes 

Hifsa Ashraf, Pakistan (EC)


There are some poems which inspire essays. I think this piece by Hifsa is one such. It offers so much to think about. Superficially, we are given the solid images of morning and glaciers. However, there is the tantalising possibility that these images may be metaphorical, rather than literal. So, is morning the start of the day, or the beginning of a new realisation? Or could it be both? Are the melting glaciers being observed or considered in the mind of the writer or, maybe, just alluded to? Is this poem documenting climate change or is it saying “Cry me a river”? The Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware feels strong here - a gentle sadness at the impermanence of things and a potentially deeper sadness in the realization that this is the reality of life. I find it profoundly beautiful and deeply moving.

Senryu Section of Cattails with Editor's choice by David Kelly


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Haiga section of Cattails

Published in Cattails, April 2025

http://www.cattailsjournal.com/issues/cattails251.pdf

Cattails, 2024

frosty trough—
the stars disappear
without names

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village well (EC)
the bucket full
of gossip

Editor’s Choices (EC) – Senryu

village well the bucket full of gossip Hifsa Ashraf, Pakistan There is a universality to Hifsa Ashraf’s poem. We all need water. So, we all need to consider a water supply. For many families, the convenience of piped water means they can access it simply by turning on a tap. For many others, life is not so convenient. In this piece, we are given the image of a village well. Although everyone is apparently there for the water, it is also a great meeting point (reminiscent of the water cooler in pre-COVID offices). I have been fortunate enough to see the community spirit around village wells in Asia. While I didn’t have a good handle on the language, it was clear there was plenty to talk about. Some conversations generated shouts and laughs, while others were conducted sotto voce. I’ve spoken to people who remember using a well in Europe. It seems to me that it wasn’t very long ago, in the grand scheme of things, when there were few alternatives to drawing water from your local well. For some, the role of the village well as a social hub is over, for others, that tradition continues.

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deep
in the lassi froth
family secrets


Cattails, October 2024 issue 

http://www.cattailsjournal.com/issues/cattails242.pdf