barbed wire fence
the jigsaw puzzle
of my homeland
Honourable Mention
The Annual Betty Drevniok Award 2020
Honourable Mention
The Annual Betty Drevniok Award 2020
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Monday, May 4, 2020
Poetry Pea Podcast, haiku reading, 2020
rumbling louder
than the evening storm
a refugee’s belly
Poetry Pea, Series 3 Episode 22: Social Issues
---------
Poetrypea, April 2020 with audio recording.
Hi there and salaam. I hope everyone is feeling well and self-isolating.
This is my first recording of haiku poetry and I must thank Patricia for the encouragement. So, I have written three monoku about my deep feelings of self-isolation as I feel being a part of this world I am also emotionally and mentally affected by this pandemic. So the first monoku is about the lockdown where I feel I am in self-imprisonment, though this haiku is inspired by the lockdown in Kashmir where people are suffering due to hunger and mental health issues. Let me first read it.
evening wind the fence wire collapsing the stars
I always observe the various aspects of nature very closely that influence me deeply. Evening wind is therapeutic when I feel I am down or tired of my daily work routine and it soothes me when I want to meditate in an open place after having a busy day. In this context, evening wind carries the invisible particles that are poisonous maybe due to coronavirus that influenced my thoughts, creativity, and feelings. I feel as if I am in a prison where I cannot use my freedom of expression, can’t make constellations with stars, and can’t even share my feelings. The fence wire symbolizes the circumstances around me that are really disturbing due to some bitter realities.
My second monku is about my favourite theme ‘shadow’. I have written many haiku about shadow and darkness so this one I shared on twitter when Nicholas asked to share a haiku about this pandemic. So, let me first read it for you.
self isolating my shadow in the dark
This is my first experience of self-isolation for this long and I am still not ready to accept it or I may need more time to get adjusted to the new normal. I feel as if this self-isolation has taken away my urge to write as nothing inspires me. I feel myself in the dark all the time as there is no way of doing catharsis or ways to dig out myself and bring out some unknown feelings on the surface.
A different and a difficult experience of my life…..
My third haiku is about coronavirus as we have been hearing this word for about a month and ironically we still can’t see it. It seems like everywhere and we are in a constant fear of contracting it. So the haiku is….
invisible enemy lurking through both sides of the window
Being an invisible enemy who attacks us but doesn’t show its identity is more disturbing both physically and mentally. We are in a constant fear of contracting it no matter how careful we are. Both sides of the window are more like my inner self and my surroundings that make me uncertain and suspicious about the current circumstances and I feel as if I am being watched by this invisible virus. This is not less than a nightmare.
So here are my three monoku about covid 19. I hope you will like it. Please don’t forget to share your views about my thoughts and Asian accent. :) Bye.
My first haiku recording of monoku on a British podcast, Poetry Pea, Series 3 Episode 9: A New Dimension, https://poetrypea.com/1826-2/
Comments:
"I loved hearing Hifsa Ashraf. Her reading made me think suddenly of people who are caught on their own in this lockdown. Hearing her verbalise her thoughts was really powerful. I have been following the progress of her work and I believe some of what she does leading the field in the English language haiku genre.”
Mark Zero, A British Haiku Poet.
------
Your commentany was great Sis, your accent is soft and gentle and I loved all your covid ku, I completely understand what you mean by lockdown causing us to be uninspired, I have felt just the same, I've been relying on Baffled and his prompts to stir me into action.
Marilyn Ward
--------
Great Hifsa! Thanks for sharing. Love your haiku interpretation of Covid. Enjoyed your lovely accent too.
Christina Chin
--------
Lovely podcast, greatly enjoyed listening to both of you. Hifsa, your COVID monoku are brilliant!
Faye Brinsmead
--------
Love love love this! It was great to hear Hifsa Ashraf reading her poems and lovely to listen as she explained what they mean to her. As always a great offering by
The Poetry Pea.
m.shanepruett
--------
I really enjoyed listening this podcast, great work dear Patricia and great monoku with awesome commentary Hifsa di beautiful voice and very meaningful words
Bhawana
--------
Great podcast. The Poetry Pea & intriguing insights on your monoku thought process Hifsa about your accent since you asked & no holding back I rate it a 7/10.
Fractled
himanshu vyas
Hi there and salaam. I hope everyone is feeling well and self-isolating.
This is my first recording of haiku poetry and I must thank Patricia for the encouragement. So, I have written three monoku about my deep feelings of self-isolation as I feel being a part of this world I am also emotionally and mentally affected by this pandemic. So the first monoku is about the lockdown where I feel I am in self-imprisonment, though this haiku is inspired by the lockdown in Kashmir where people are suffering due to hunger and mental health issues. Let me first read it.
evening wind the fence wire collapsing the stars
I always observe the various aspects of nature very closely that influence me deeply. Evening wind is therapeutic when I feel I am down or tired of my daily work routine and it soothes me when I want to meditate in an open place after having a busy day. In this context, evening wind carries the invisible particles that are poisonous maybe due to coronavirus that influenced my thoughts, creativity, and feelings. I feel as if I am in a prison where I cannot use my freedom of expression, can’t make constellations with stars, and can’t even share my feelings. The fence wire symbolizes the circumstances around me that are really disturbing due to some bitter realities.
My second monku is about my favourite theme ‘shadow’. I have written many haiku about shadow and darkness so this one I shared on twitter when Nicholas asked to share a haiku about this pandemic. So, let me first read it for you.
self isolating my shadow in the dark
This is my first experience of self-isolation for this long and I am still not ready to accept it or I may need more time to get adjusted to the new normal. I feel as if this self-isolation has taken away my urge to write as nothing inspires me. I feel myself in the dark all the time as there is no way of doing catharsis or ways to dig out myself and bring out some unknown feelings on the surface.
A different and a difficult experience of my life…..
My third haiku is about coronavirus as we have been hearing this word for about a month and ironically we still can’t see it. It seems like everywhere and we are in a constant fear of contracting it. So the haiku is….
invisible enemy lurking through both sides of the window
Being an invisible enemy who attacks us but doesn’t show its identity is more disturbing both physically and mentally. We are in a constant fear of contracting it no matter how careful we are. Both sides of the window are more like my inner self and my surroundings that make me uncertain and suspicious about the current circumstances and I feel as if I am being watched by this invisible virus. This is not less than a nightmare.
So here are my three monoku about covid 19. I hope you will like it. Please don’t forget to share your views about my thoughts and Asian accent. :) Bye.
My first haiku recording of monoku on a British podcast, Poetry Pea, Series 3 Episode 9: A New Dimension, https://poetrypea.com/1826-2/
Comments:
"I loved hearing Hifsa Ashraf. Her reading made me think suddenly of people who are caught on their own in this lockdown. Hearing her verbalise her thoughts was really powerful. I have been following the progress of her work and I believe some of what she does leading the field in the English language haiku genre.”
Mark Zero, A British Haiku Poet.
------
Your commentany was great Sis, your accent is soft and gentle and I loved all your covid ku, I completely understand what you mean by lockdown causing us to be uninspired, I have felt just the same, I've been relying on Baffled and his prompts to stir me into action.
Marilyn Ward
--------
Great Hifsa! Thanks for sharing. Love your haiku interpretation of Covid. Enjoyed your lovely accent too.
Christina Chin
--------
Lovely podcast, greatly enjoyed listening to both of you. Hifsa, your COVID monoku are brilliant!
Faye Brinsmead
--------
Love love love this! It was great to hear Hifsa Ashraf reading her poems and lovely to listen as she explained what they mean to her. As always a great offering by
The Poetry Pea.
m.shanepruett
--------
I really enjoyed listening this podcast, great work dear Patricia and great monoku with awesome commentary Hifsa di beautiful voice and very meaningful words
Bhawana
--------
Great podcast. The Poetry Pea & intriguing insights on your monoku thought process Hifsa about your accent since you asked & no holding back I rate it a 7/10.
Fractled
--------
Just listened to the podcast, and I enjoyed your monoku (especially the second one & your commentary on it)
Theresa
--------
was just listening to haiku; liked all three of them and the sincere descriptions. and voice does add an interesting dimension to it. thank you and The Poetry Pea
Just listened to the podcast, and I enjoyed your monoku (especially the second one & your commentary on it)
Theresa
--------
was just listening to haiku; liked all three of them and the sincere descriptions. and voice does add an interesting dimension to it. thank you and The Poetry Pea
himanshu vyas
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Cattails, 2020
revealing
the raven tattoos
on her neck
when I ask
about her insecurities
---------
Departure
It has been two weeks since you left this house and I still feel your presence all around. I inhale and exhale nothing but the loneliness in the morning. On the balcony, the birds peck into the bird feeder and fly away. The sunbeam through the bedroom window tries to warm my slumberous body and disappear. Some white fluffy clouds start gathering in the sky to cover the bright sun. The first half of the day passes and all these scenes make me ponder deeply about life that keeps on moving.
settling dust
on the window glass
afternoon thoughts
Cattails, April 2020
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, 2020
Honoured to have my haiku selected for the "Masters of Japanese Prints: Haiku" based on Japanese prints in the collection at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, England.
People sent in more than 800 beautiful, thought-provoking poems from thirty countries worldwide.
Friday, March 20, 2020
The Third Edition of Santoka International Haiku & Haiga Contest, 2020
Highly Commended
border fence…
a child plays peekaboo
with the hunter’s moon
granica
dete se igra žmurke sa
krvavim mesecom
国境で
まんまる月と
ピーカブー
The Third Edition of Santoka International Haiku Contest, “Loneliness”
and It's a big honour to cite this:
It is a great honour to announce that we received 219 submissions from 40 countries for the 3rd Santoka International Haiku Contest.
We have singled out 6 haiku for the beauty of sabi they possess:
Translation into Serbian by Aleksandar Vasić.
Translation into Japanese by Margareta Samoran.
----------------------------------
new identity…
I follow the path
of a calm river
novi identitet…
pratim stazu
mirne reke
The Third Edition of Santoka International Haiga Contest
and It's a big honour to cite this:
It is a great honour to announce that we received 45 submissions from 20 countries for the 3rd Santoka International Haiga Contest.
On this occasion, we have singled out 6 haiga for their profound beauty. They received this year’s awards.
Translation into Serbian by Aleksandar Vasić.
border fence…
a child plays peekaboo
with the hunter’s moon
granica
dete se igra žmurke sa
krvavim mesecom
国境で
まんまる月と
ピーカブー
The Third Edition of Santoka International Haiku Contest, “Loneliness”
and It's a big honour to cite this:
It is a great honour to announce that we received 219 submissions from 40 countries for the 3rd Santoka International Haiku Contest.
We have singled out 6 haiku for the beauty of sabi they possess:
Translation into Serbian by Aleksandar Vasić.
Translation into Japanese by Margareta Samoran.
----------------------------------
new identity…
I follow the path
of a calm river
novi identitet…
pratim stazu
mirne reke
The Third Edition of Santoka International Haiga Contest
and It's a big honour to cite this:
It is a great honour to announce that we received 45 submissions from 20 countries for the 3rd Santoka International Haiga Contest.
On this occasion, we have singled out 6 haiga for their profound beauty. They received this year’s awards.
Translation into Serbian by Aleksandar Vasić.
Certificates
---------------------
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Fireflies' Light, 2020
Joseph’s star1, 3, 5, 7, 7, 5, 3, and 1.
bright
summer sky
in a calm river
white sakura petals whirl
revealing inner beauty
that enchants zephyr
to spread our
love
love
in your eyes
a poet's dreams reshape
the slumberous horizon
and rekindle gloomy hues
to uplift my soul
for a true
glimpse
glimpse
of your face
in the morning dew
refreshing my memories
of pearly flowers posy
in your hands for me
our first love
spring
------------------------------
Serendipity(nonet)
serenity dances on summits
of Himalaya peaks that are
interwoven with the strings
of the river fog that
tickle the wounded
heart of dervish
who whirls for
divine
light
Fireflies' Light, issue 18 March
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
UHTS annual AHA Haiku/Senryu Contest, 2020
glacier ice
floating in the water...
disillusions
commended/shortlisted
commended/shortlisted
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