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)