A two-piece pole for an inductive write head has a first pole piece in the tip region contiguous the gap and confronting the other pole across the gap. The first pole piece has a width defining the gap width of the write head at the air bearing surface. A second pole piece is connected to the first pole piece and extends to the back gap. At least a portion of the second pole piece is connected to the first pole piece and has a width larger than the width of the first pole piece. The second pole piece means has surfaces within the pole tip region that intersect at external corners facing the gap, at least two surfaces of each of these external corners being joined at an obtuse angle so that none of said external corner is a sharp external corner, thereby minimizing fringe fields. In one form, a pole cap between the first and second pole pieces has a trapezoidal configuration forming the obtuse angles.