Black Wings

wind through rafters

the pressing burden

of a secret

JH

written on the wall

the pain of love

HA

storm light

buffing the cloud base

nail marks in her palms

JH

blurred trails intertwine

with self-imposed isolation

HA

north wind

lines of black stubble

over fields of rape

JH

crows circle around

deep snow furrows

HA

hardening frost

wings of dread

from her shoulders

JH

white ashes of longing

dissipate in reckless night

HA

stone road

runnels of dirt water

gutter with rumour

JH

early autumn leaves

stuffed in the sinkhole

HA

time’s drift

the long walk home

tightens its spiral

JH

shrouds of dust

in the land of infidelity

HA

hunkering down

night unfurls black folds

of understanding

JH

shedding my illusions

I make peace with shadows

HA

​

Hifsa Ashraf & John Hawkhead

Wales Haiku Journal, winter issue, 2021