…as a shadow’s touch
Beneath a full moon
the garden whispers softly
night blooms awaken
a gentle breeze stirs
carrying the scent of pine
and perfumed jasmine
crickets serenade
their song a steady rhythm
time moves with the night
a fox darts through grass
silent as a shadow’s touch
eyes gleaming with light
stars pierce the dark sky
a tapestry of longing
echoes of wishes
morning is breaking
the world will soon awaken
but night still lingers
© Ann Bagnall
A haikai is a collaborative Japanese poetic form that usually involves multiple poets contributing linked verses (but can be written by a single poet). However, in a modern context, it can also refer to a haikai or renga, or simply a linked verse sequence, where each verse relates to the previous one, but with a shift in focus or theme