Circle of Salt, 2025

in plumes of jasmine incense a wandering dervish

Circle of Salt, December 02, 2025

https://circleofsaltmag.blogspot.com/

Shadow Pond Journal, 2025

sunlit dune—
the curve of her body
in Sufi whirling

Published in Shadow Pond Journal, November 24th 2025

https://shadowpondjournal.blogspot.com/2025/11/hifsa-ashraf-pakistan.html

Akita International Haiku Network, 2025

atonement—

the shades of green

in an autumn leaf

Published in Frogpond 47:3, Autumn 2024

　

償いや緑の陰影秋の葉に

tsugunai ya midori no inei aki no ha ni

——

war debris—

the cold wind rocks

an empty cradle

Wales haiku journal , winter 2024/25

　

戦争の残骸揺れる冷風に

sensō no zangai yureru reifū ni

——

winter ends —

a tapestry of stars

in the village pond

tsuri-dōrō Issue #26 – March/April 2025

　

立春や星の織物村の池

risshun ya hoshi no orimono mura no ike

——

before and after

social media ads

Rumi’s love

failed haiku, volume 10, Issue 108

　

広告の後先飾るルーミーの愛

kōkoku no ato-saki kazaru rūmī no ai

——

homecoming…

dripping from the icicles

moonlight

Published in The Daily Verse of The Wise Owl, Thursday, 6th March, 2025

　

月光の滴る氷柱帰郷かな

gekkō no shitataru tsurara kikyō kana

——

Sufi meditation—

prostrating on the ground

my shadow

Stone of the month – Water Poem, VSANA, May 2025

　

ひれ伏する地の礼拝や影を成す

hirefusuru chi no reihai ya kage wo nasu

——

morning fog…

this urge to find

my place

Published in SPRING/SUMMER issue 2025

　

朝霧や自分はどこにいるのやら

asagiri ya jibun wa doko ni irunoyara

——

morning blues the melting glaciers in my eyes

Published in Cattails, April 2025

　

朝の鬱溶ける氷河が目の中に

asa no utsu tokeru hyōga ga me no naka ni

——

river thaw

the lingering caw

of a mountain

Published in Presence issue # 81

　

雪解川山の鳴き声長々と

yukige-kawa yama no nakigoe naganaga to

——

morning mist—

how long does it take

to settle down

Published in First Frost issue #09, April 2025

　

朝靄や晴れるときまでどのくらい

asamoya ya hareru toki-made donokurai

——

Interpreted into Japanese by Hidenori Hiruta

Haiku beyond Earth「天上俳句会」Haiku by Hifsa Ashraf in Pakistan
Hiruta Haiku, Haiku beyond Earth, 天上俳句会  2025/05/22

https://akitahaiku.com/2025/05/22/haiku-beyond-earth%e3%80%8c%e5%a4%a9%e4%b8%8a%e4%bf%b3%e5%8f%a5%e4%bc%9a%e3%80%8dhaiku-by-hifsa-ashraf-in-pakistan/

VSANA, 2025

fading light—

the glimmering shadow

of a sea-worn rock 

 

Sufi hymn—

sea wind echoes 

through the rock

 

receding tide 

the missing tune

of a sailor’s whistle  

Stone of the month - Buddha's Hand, VSANA, October 2025

https://www.vsana.org/ppp-42-oct-1--25

-------

last goodbye—
the lingering warmth
of dad’s hands

healing touch...
mom’s fingers intertwined
with mine

Stone of the month - Buddha's Hand, VSANA, August 2025

https://www.vsana.org/ppp-40-aug-1--25

-------

Sufi meditation— 

prostrating on the ground 

my shadow 

stone carving—  

reshaping the stone

reshaping me 

Stone of the month - Water Poem, VSANA, May 2025

https://www.vsana.org/ppp-35-apr-1--25

-----

old park bench
the rust also tarnishes
our names’ initials


midsummer tide
the crippled wing
of a migratory bird

January's Stone 'Soaring', Published in February 2025 

https://www.vsana.org/ppp-32-dec-1--24

tsuri-dōrō, 2025

Remembrance Day — 

the poppy petals fall 

from a veteran’s diary 

tsuri-dōrō issue #30 – Nov/Dec 2025

https://tsuridoro.org/issue-30-nov-dec-2025

-------

Sufi hymn —
dripping from the roof
raindrops

deep winter —
the missing arm
of Orion the Hunter

tsuri-dōrō issue #28 – July/August 2025

https://tsuridoro.org/issue-28-july-august-2025 

-----------

winter ends —
a tapestry of stars
in the village pond

tsuri-dōrō Issue #26 – March/April 2025

https://tsuridoro.org/issue-26-march-april-2025

Also included in the anthology Turf Cottage, edited by Tony Pupello and published by tsuri‑dōrō Press.

https://tsuridoro.org/tsuri-doro-press

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/turf-cottage-Haiku-Senry%C5%AB-tsurid%C5%8Dr%C5%8D/dp/B0GT1X52FG/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GxRGHEFnlKI0iesCp-IjGoEfmt9Yhlq_gMmKkeh7sw4.fKGqecVdU51eIGW18Aha_qrzn_gDjsv-Ve1NVHBI1HE&dib_tag=se&qid=1775482287&refinements=p_27%3ATony+Pupello&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Tony+Pupello

THF Haiku Dialogue, 2025

baisakhi day—
the dhol’s beats fade
into the thresher’s hum

Again a poem about the passing of an era, a way of life through cultural connotations associated with farming. ‘baishakhi day’ has tremendous significance. On the agrarian level it is associated with harvesting, with renewal and collective joy. It is also a sacred day having spiritual significance. The opening line situates us in tradition, festivities and culture before reality hits. The ‘dhol’s beats’ become a sound metaphor and the fact that these are fading tells us the story of our times. Is it loss or is it transition? The answer to the question is left for the reader to answer as per individual perceptions. ‘fade’ has a gentle melancholy which lends an endearing quality to this poem.

L3 takes us to the juxtaposition of the sound metaphor. The ‘beats’ have given way to the routine ‘hum’ of the thresher underlying a mechanical progression that was necessary. But this coming away has left us nostalgic and somewhere we do hear the beating of dhols albeit fading.

The poem encapsulates a philosophy that is agrarian and existential at the same time.

HAIKU DIALOGUE – Working with the Soil – working with the soil in a modern context commentary, January 7, 2026

-------

preparing soil—
the farmer’s sweat falls
without a sound

It is unsung labour again that this poem seeks to glorify, richly deserved by the quiet farmer in the act of simple living. The silence of his sweat falling is celebrated by the poet. The stage is set with the preparation of the soil. The em dash acting as kireji takes the movement from the external to the internal, to the reaction of being, the sweat, mirroring the unadorned existence of the farmer. The silence of the sweat opens a space of contemplation, gently nudging the world to sit up and notice. The farmer, the soil, the sweat take the readers into the world of Nature that is not just a landscape but a part of our reality.

As the sweat evaporates and the effort goes unrecognised the poem gently suggests impermanence. The silence at the end leaves the reader in a contemplative mood as so much remains unsaid.

HAIKU DIALOGUE – Working with the Soil – traditional soil work – commentary December 17, 2025

------

Sufi Qawwali—
attuning to the heart
beats

HAIKU DIALOGUE – Music Around the World – To enlightenment and beyond or music and the spiritual path – long list

https://thehaikufoundation.org/haiku-dialogue-music-around-the-world-to-enlightenment-and-beyond-or-music-and-the-spiritual-path-long-list/

------

distant stars—
the refugee mother rewrites
her lullaby


Haiku Dialogue prompt– Music Around the World – Loving you with all of my tunes or let’s talk about feelings. October 30, 2025

https://thehaikufoundation.org/haiku-dialogue-music-around-the-world-loving-you-with-all-of-my-tunes-or-lets-talk-about-feelings-long-list/


------

cawing breaks the ice down memory lane

HAIKU DIALOGUE – All the World’s a Stage – Break a Leg – long list

Wales Haiku Journal, 2023

dark energy 

still wandering 

the Milky Way

my hooded cloak

worn thin

Hifsa Ashraf and R.C. Thomas

----------------------------

The Wales Haiku Journal, Summer Edition 2023

---------

deep winter dawn the lingering notes of hu mantra

New Year Eve—
turning some thoughts
into the migratory birds

meadow wind—
this urge of becoming
a butterfly

Wales Haiku Journal, Winter 2022-23

The Zen Space, 2022

hu mantra —
beyond breath clouds
the first light


sand dunes
contouring the footprints
of this inner journey


midsummer dreams
floating on the lake
rice paper lanterns


the point where
I decided to move on
river’s bend


after pilgrimage
the noctilucent clouds
walks me home


cloudburst—
the breaking point
of my insecurities


murmuration—
the dark shadow
of my silence

The Zen Space, Winter issue 2022

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK, 2021

departing memories 

hoarfrost on the door 

carves his palms

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

December 31st, 2021

------

trophy hunting
dripping in the trough
crimson icicles

----------

reaping rice 

the lingering smell 

of grandma’s pudding 

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

December 3rd, 2021

--------

old letter box 

gathers more dust 

winter twilight

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

November 19th, 2021

--------

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

------------

bamboo forest

where we met last time

old flute songs

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

October 1st, 2021

----------

moving day… I walk alpine moon back to the valley

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

September 17, 2021

----------

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

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

September 3, 2021

----------

Sufi meditation-- 

from the rock crevice 

a cascading waterfall

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

May 21, 2021

-----------

evening zikr…

I come across

my real shadow

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

April 2, 2021

-----------

hu mantra-- 

the waterfall’s rainbow 

reflects my aura

April 30, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

-----------

spring breeze 

whirls the white rose 

dervish dance

April 16, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

-----------

evening zikr…
I come across
my real shadow

April 2, 2021
ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

-----------

year of the Ox

I make peace

with the cold sun

February 5, 2021

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun

---------

year of the Ox 

avoiding 

the scarlet sky 

January 29, 2021

ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray : The Asahi Shimbun

--------

early spring…
the aroma of roti
from a clay oven

-----

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


ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray
January 15, 2021

Akita International Haiku Network, 2019

World Haiku Series 2019 (62)

Unpublished haiku 

hot stones
touching the core
of another life

熱い石
別の生命のコアに触れる

——-

Buddha and Sufi
facing the sun
spring equinox

仏陀とスーフィー
太陽に面している
春分

——-

tranquil koi pond
the yin-yang
of my dreams

静かな鯉の池
私の夢の陰陽

——-

wisteria tunnel
at the end…
my dreams

藤のトンネル
最後に…
私の夢

————————————————-

Published haiku 

plumes of smoke
curl around…
the half-opened roses

Haikuniverse, October 10th, 2019

もくもく立ち上がる煙
うずを巻く…
半分開いたバラ

——-

winter cleaning
moth wings cling
to mother’s scarf

hedgerow #128 (the summer issue)

冬の清掃
蛾がしがみつく
母のスカーフに

——-

summer sky
the kaleidoscope
of my dreams

Stardust Haiku, Issue 32 – August 2019

夏の空
私の夢の万華鏡

——-

sweltering day
the loud sound
of the dripping tap

August 2, 2019, ASAHI HAIKUIST NETWORK/ David McMurray

蒸し暑い日
滴下タップの大きな音
——-

peace negotiations —
a refugee child collects
the bullet shells

hedgerow, spring 127

和平交渉－
難民の子供が集める
弾丸の殻を

——-

sandpiper—
rolling back
the ebb tide

The Heron’s Nest, Volume XXI, Number 2: June 2019

シギ
転がって戻る
引き潮


— Translated by Hidenori Hiruta