full moon eve
already lighter
each flicker of tail
the wild horses
roaming the rim
of frosted moorland
The cottage was on an edge with picture windows at every side. The slopes extended way beyond the focal point of horizon and sky. Just a between-space of freedom, holding the pitch of rain and snow pummelling the land.
a two-note chime
with each change
of wind direction
and nuance
the backing rhythm
an anchor of slumber
silver trails
becoming the norm
for a countdown
almost awake
the chill in air
coating each star
is a short-form poetry writer from the UK. Her work is published widely in print and online journals, has won awards and honourable mentions, and has been shortlisted for the Touchstone Award. She is the author of several books which are available on Amazon: River Lanterns, her first collection of 90 cherita which won The Cherita Award from publisher and editor ai li (2023); Every Star: Threads and Tanka Strings (2023); and three books published by Dragon Wings Press: Book Patronus: Tanka and Haiku Poetry (2025), Love’s Scriptures (2025), and Moonset Song: Cherita Poems (2023). Ashwell served previously on the selection team for the Canadian journal GUSTS: Contemporary Tanka.
