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if the shoe fits (extract)

toiling through the snow
he hums to keep his spirit up
yielding to the wind
the frozen reeds and grasses
bend and whistle too


signs of hope none
words of comfort too few
to be garnered here
memories in silence
sorrow in downcast eyes


  • from freedom passing available from www.blurb.com
      If the shoe fits - haibun (with haiga) published online at


    if the shoe fits (extract)

    I

    It isn’t a particularly remarkable day in May. Warm but not over
    warm. I’ve never been here before, to the Imperial War Museum. It’s
    much as I expected – tanks and rockets and bits of planes – apart, that
    is, from the 27,000 clay figures.


          colourless clay
          around each tiny shape
          a bright ribbon


    They represent the number of children killed or wounded in the
    closing months of the Second World War.


          young spirits roam
          is that the grumble of spring thunder
          or something more sinister


  • from freedom passing available from www.blurb.com
      If the shoe fits - haibun (with haiga) published online at


    © Anne-Marie Glasheen 1995-2008