Poem - Whispers from the Wood

Whispers from the Wood
Shah Jehan Ashrafi

The wood breathes
and gives birth
to its secret wings.
The wind recites
a forgotten poem.
Trees become spires
and whisper mantras
to heal the world.
They whirl and wriggle—
in vain.
Owls wear crowns
and watch ferns
and misty moss.
They know this time,
and want to hear
a lullaby to sleep tight.
The moon becomes
drunk and points
toward the poison ivy.
They talk about
Mother Earth,
who coughs
and weeps, her hands
stained with blood.
Together they talk about Time—
a prisoner
to war and crime.
They see morality
dissolving like
melting rain.
The world is thirsty—
a cracked, barren land.
The forest cries,
and shakes like a trembling leaf.
The moon watches,
holding a helpless wand.
It pines to heal and change
the fissure in the human world.

©® Shah Jehan Ashrafi


SHAH JEHAN ASHRAFI – PROFILE

Shah Jehan Begum Ashrafi was born in U.P., India, and grew up in Mauritius. She studied English and French literature at the University of Mauritius. After completing her postgraduate degree in education at the Mauritius Institute of Education, she taught English, French, and literature in various secondary schools. She wrote several plays for the National Drama Festival in Mauritius. Her first published work is a study guide to Arthur Miller’s play ‘All My Sons’. Writing poetry is her passion, and she is also working on a novel and some short stories. She was on the editing panel of Rajeshwari Chauhan’s novel ‘Daniel’s Diary’. Now the author lives in Canada and wishes to take up other jobs and widen her experience and knowledge. Shah Jehan Ashrafi completed her Master’s degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Montreal. Her poetry books ‘Bloom and Gloom’ and ‘Whispers’ are live on Amazon worldwide.


*Collected from the poetess by Md Ejaj Ahamed*