afternoon siesta
the welcome sound
of rolling thunder

—Christina Chin, Malaysia

firefly’s kirameku
kittens’ paw prints
on terracotta veranda

Kirameku (Japanese): Sparkle

—Saad Ali, The UK & Pakistan

monsoon arrives—
fading the blue
chalk-drawn hopscotch

—Neena Singh, India

sudden shower
frangipani flowers
fill the birdbath

—Neena Singh, India

cloudburst. . .
drum tones shape
the forest canopy

—Ben Oliver, England

beech tree canopy
the rain
that doesn’t reach me

—Ruth Holzer, USA

evening chinwag
on the thick bough
frangipani fragrance

—Christina Chin, Malaysia

strawberry moon
each window freckled
with rain showers

—Joanna Ashwell, UK

About

Christina Chin is a painter and haiku poet recognised for her work in haiku, haiga and related poetic forms that integrate poetry with painting.

Saad Ali is a poet-philosopher, literary translator, and author from the UK and Pakistan. His work has been nominated for: Best of the Net, Best Microfiction, and Best Small Fictions. His ekphrases have been showcased at art exhibitions in Alberta (Canada), Queensland (Australia), and Seattle (USA). Visit him at: https://linktr.ee/owlofpines.

Neena Singh is a Touchstone shortlisted poet & Editor who loves penning Japanese short forms of poetry as also haibun, tanka prose, haiga & rengay.

Ben Oliver grew up on (and in) the River Thames, where he developed a deep affinity with nature. Having studied Biology, he works at Westonbirt National Arboretum, helping people engage with the majesty of trees.

Ruth Holzer’s haiku, tanka and haibun have appeared in many journals and anthologies. She lives in Virginia.

Joanna Ashwell is a short-form poetry writer from the UK.  She has been honoured in several competitions and was short-listed for a Touchstone individual poem in 2020 and for haibun in 2025.  She is widely published in both print and online journals.

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