The Stillness

Haibun by Shreya Chauhan

The spider wove her large web, a queen at the center of her Babylon. It became more and more intricate, shining outside the window under which I slept, as the weeks of caregiving wore on. One morning I awoke to find her simply gone, the web gaping in the middle, leaving strands hanging, suddenly lacking purpose or function. Her queendom had become too grand for life to hold.

Sleep turned eternal
Cold face of rigor mortis
Finally at peace

-for my mother


Shreya is a compulsive diarist with a background in business. She appreciates silent mornings, enjoys classic novels, and watches trash telenovelas under the guise of learning Spanish.

Written Tales

Unleash your passion for literature and join the Written Tales family. Together, we'll make it the #1 home for writers & readers. Subscribe today and become part of our community that embraces poems and short story forms.
Join Today
He Never Gave Me a Pony

He Never Gave Me a Pony

Journey into Shadows: 'He Never Gave Me a Pony' by Gia Porter. Witness the Unfulfilled Desires and Haunting Regrets of a Broken Promise, a Story ...
Read More →

Portrait of a Happenstance

Sreekanth Kopuri’s Portrait of a Happenstance reflects on the unpredictability of encounters and how fleeting moments shape our understanding, blending surreal imagery with the subtle ...
Read More →

Leave a Comment