The Cicada's Cry, 2021

end of summer ...
a crow on the balcony
preens its shadow

The Cicada's Cry Autumn 2021 Edition

http://thecicadascry.blogspot.com/

NOON: journal of the short poem

water mirage

behind
the sand dune

reflecting
the self I own
after you disown me

Issue 20, November 2021
NOON: journal of the short poem

https://issuu.com/noonpress/docs/noon_20

Otoroshi Rengay Contest, 2021

Received Honourable Mentions for these two rengay

Night Echoes

moonlight —
nothing to choose between
water and blood

in mirror pieces
her kajal-lined eyes

wide open
blue
clouding over

pulling out
one more needle
from the voodoo doll

an empty chair
begins to rock

dead of night
on the doorway
webbed footprints

Alan Peat & Hifsa Ashraf 

also in Otoroshi Journal, Vol 1, Issue # 04 with commentary

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

Blood Sacrifice

graveside manner
the shadow sorts body parts
for its creation

bones clicking
whispers of ghouls

a hiss of gas
twisting out
of the incision

chipped gravestone
the fork tongue licks
ancient words

sacred blade symbol
the sickle moon scar

eclipsed eyes
screen through ashes
the dead heart

John Hawkhead & Hifsa Ashraf 

also in Otoroshi Journal, Vol 1, Issue # 04 with commentary

https://743677d2-8c1c-418e-a00f-e6808aa7cc9d.filesusr.com/ugd/a59fed_d3d5811b0ab74355b55e12720f27f943.pdf

also in Otoroshi Journal, Vol 1, Issue # 04 with commentary

Guest 19 - A journal of guest editors, 2021

blue ice sculpting climate blues

-------

berry picking
mom’s childhood
now mine

--------

solitude walk
on a moonlit path
around me
mom’s shadow
like a moon halo

GUEST 19, Issue # 19 edited by Pearl Pirie, August 2021

FreshOut Mag, 2021

raindrops

merging
on the glass door

this contentment
of reunion
after falling apart

FreshOut Mag, 21st December, 2021

------

surging up

tidal waves
in the still water

when I transform
my shadow
into light

FreshOut Mag, 7th November, 2021

-------

ephemeral rays

of the super moon

bloom

a budding dream
that drifts day and night
in my slumberous eyes

FreshOut Mag, 17th October, 2021

AHS Spring Equinox 2021 Haiga Kukai: Seasonal

Highly Commended

first chemo—
on her head scarf
pink blossoms

Hifsa Ashraf 

Judged and commented by Ron C Moss

This is another haiku that carries a very important message of hope and survival, which has been compassionately described by the poet. There’s a carefully crafted association between the headscarf, perhaps to cover the hair that has fallen after chemo, and the short life of a blossom, magnificent as it falls back to the earth. May we all shine so brightly in the light of our knowing.

tinywords, 2021

end of summer

the cracked face
of a display mannequin

tinywords, issue 21.2