A Spinning Thread (Haibun) - published
A SPINNING THREAD It was sudden. Three months ago, on a bright day filled with nature's first green, she stood hanging out the washing – a mundane activity, a mindless rhythm, peg by peg, four to a row. jocks and T- shirts on the back row, a flutter of sheets next to floral PJ's, tracing shadows across a modest orchid. Empty basket on her hip, she turned, tripped, hit her head on the concrete path. puddled clouds a wing-torn moth slaps at shadows Dementia he was told. Not liking things awry, out of whack, he had no words – slowly, seasons spin on a fragile thread of fears, held fast in the dream catcher. Cups of tea growing cold. 'She died', he said quietly. 'Yesterday'. published 2026 Drifting Sands Issue 37 (Neena Singh)