When I walk down the lane, I often sense the pain, That I tried a lot to save, But all in vain.
When I walk down the lane, A thought hits my brain, Those bats of twenty-two yards, Are no more in the game.
When I walk down the lane, I see the lake, its the same Where the painting made of dove, Turned into the feeling of love.
When I walk down the lane, I feel the emotions turning plain, When the tears roll when I cry, She fondles my face with love, And waits for the tears to dry.
When I walk down the lane, I see the memories drain, With the time sadly passing by, I just wait for the lady to call, We are ready to fly.
I won’t walk down this time, Because it’s time for me to fly high, Bidding my gracious childhood, A final goodbye!
Sirens awakened the Moonman from his boozy slumber.
The 2nd day
His hangover left him soon after the rigid limbs were caressed by the mortician.
The 3rd day
A flutter of paper, stuttering sex workers and clicks of a pen droned for hours at end.
The 4th day
The Moonman was desperate. He fought. He argued. He hit, again. He killed, again.
The 5th day
She wasn’t found, she wasn’t as important. But the gun was.
The 6th day
The solemn, smoking sergeant knew enough to guess, but still too less.
The 7th day
The Moonman ; a crescent inked onto his neck and a face just as cratered with scars and pockmarks. Repeat offender. Madman. Drunkard. Lost soul. 6ft 3 inches. The 8th day
He chose bottles of booze to escape rather than boats. He could have, he just didn’t.
The 9th day
The sergeant was ready to tighten the noose. Evidence in place, bullets in case.
The 10th day
The moonman heard whispers around the brothel and bar. They were coming for him.
The 11th day
He sat next to the sea. Fight or flight, all his life.
The 12th day
They found him. He found her. She found eternal silence.
~
After all he was hunting for a star to shine with him in the pitch dark. (Misery loves company) She was corrupted as was he and in that lay their destiny…..
Aayush Gugnani is an amateur writer based out of New Delhi. He uses free style word play to express his political opinions and occasionally dabbles in poetry. He uses the world as his canvas and believes in expressing his thoughts and feelings openly.
Such Is Life
By Aayush Gugnani
In the breezy summer With the golden sun, Shimmering at the horizon I stood there in oblivion.
Standing at the worlds end Waiting for you to come back, I clinged on to my memories with you Cherishing our moments as a pack.
What once was a dream for me, Became a reality. Once I was an ill fitted piece Soon we became family.
We held each other in times of despair And had each other’s back here & there. Never had the world, Seen such a ravishing pair.
We were unbreakable, Like a covalent bond. At least that’s what people said, To which we replied it was a miracle of the gods’ wand.
Alas ! Now you’ve gone too far Away from the gusty winds Away from being what you were Or who you are.
I’m not complaining for the woes Happy you finally got what’s yours. I’ll be there if and when you return To fill your saddened pores.
Life without you in the beginning was tough, Nights were endless and rough.
Though I learned to cope with them, Yet, I wonder how can I pacify my sinking soul. O how do I break myself from these shackled chains? To go back to being what I really was.
Don’t ever think I’m not with you. I’m an undercurrent, You might not be able to see me But in all your times of both happiness and despair, I will be omnipresent.
Life’s a chaos without a pattern One moment we’re here, The other we’re not.
Yet, I try to maintain positivity in life. Try to look up and find the northern light, Look down to see the sea shimmering bright.
The haze maybe temporary, But the maze is permanent. Our laugh maybe fading, But our love for each other, Our love is effervescent.
Shiuli Sural is a young Indian writer based out of New Delhi. She mostly writes fiction, underlining a social message in her stories. Besides being an avid reader and writing, her hobbies include drawing, listening to music and cooking.
The Last War
By Shiuli Sural
Ahoy there! The land approaches The soldiers rejoice, the prisoner reproaches They’ve come back from another battle Destroyed houses, people and cattle
So the kingdom is now safe again From enemies, treachery and disdain The brave-hearts fought with all their might To win each and every fight
But, Those who had been martyred On both sides, winners and losers Shed tears for their families from above They had been husbands, sons and fathers.
A war can never decide Who is wrong and who is right What is big and what is small Who will rise and who will fall
What war does, Is that it divides the world Into more pieces and erects more walls How can a broken heart ever rejoice With restless nights and a dying voice
My world , my people, my near and dear Let’s live in peace with love and care Holding hands we all will say That we renounce war from today
There are more pressing matters to be dealt with Changing climate, rising poverty and filth This beautiful blue mother Earth Needs us to acknowledge her worth.
When Life Gives A Chance
By Shiuli Sural
It was not long ago When the world looked dark to me It made me question myself My life, my choice, my ability
I turned around, looking For help to forget my strain Instead I found, a white substance An answer to my pain
I felt so high Like I could almost fly This was ecstasy No more did I cry
My very own world No one to be seen None to be heard Here, I was the queen
A day arrived Though not all of a sudden When this world of mine Was ruled by Satan
What I’d created in a frenzy Had now turned it’s back on me It clenched my throat How I choked and choked In the ocean of despair Was my life’s sinking boat
But, Then a change that was long due Came in little by little And I started to realise Why my life was so brittle
I reached out for help, Support, hope and empathy I found oceans of all this and more In someone who saved me
My therapist proved to be An angel in disguise Light and love she made me see And freed me from my ties
Now, I see the world with hues of hope And the earth bejewelled with light My mind and soul dream and smile I find joy in every sight.
Ishaan Garg is a positive boy of 19, who hails from the heritage city of Gwalior and is currently studying at Christ University, Bangalore. The habit of writing developed accidentally, when he was somewhat in a state of stress. His writings decode the reality of life, world and the holistic learning, he received from the society, and also one’s understanding towards it.
I
कुछ सुनने की तलभ थी, दिल ही दिल हसीन सपनों से भरी एक नदी थी, इशारों भरे समझौतों में वो बेशरत प्यार कि बर्नी थी, उसके हाथों में मेरा हाथ देख, वक़्त की भी साँसें थमी थीं, इन सबके बीच, बस उस प्यार के इहज़ार की कमी थी, जिसे सोच कर मेरी दिल की धड़कने भी सहमी थीं, कुछ ऐसी उनकही सी थी वो प्रेम कथा, जिसकी दास्ताँ सिर्फ़ ख़ुदा के दरबार में बनी थी।
II
कुछ बातें अनकही सी, दिल ही दिल दफ़न हो जाती है, होंटों तक आती है, पर बयाँ नई हो पाती है, कहो, तो सज्जन्नों को तख़लीफ पहुँचाती है, ना कहो, तो मनुष्य को अवसाद के चक्रवूयह में फाँसती है, क्या वर्चस्व है, ऐसे लोकतंत्र का, क्या महत्व है, इंसानियत से भारी भावनाओं का, जब दिल ही दिल, चंद अनकही बातें, मनुष्य का बहुमूलए जीवन, उससे छीन जाती है।
III
गुमनामी की सरहद पर भटकता, एक प्यार का प्यासा जीव, बस एक ख़्याल दौहरता, गुनगुनाता, पल भर बस यह सोचता, यह क्या ज़ुल्म है जो समाज को बर्दाश्त नहीं, यह क्या वाक्य है जो आज की आराधना नहीं, यह क्या गुण है, जसकी कोई शिक्षा नहीं, यह कैसा प्यार है, जिसमें कोई बंधन नहीं, यह कौनसी इंसानियत है, जिसमें कोई मानवता नहीं, क्या यही है मौजूदि दुनिया, जिसमें स्नेही प्रमाण नहीं, या यही वो भरम्माण है, जिसमें बसी गुमनामी कहीं।
Sabah Kaur Mann is a young writer and poet based out of Jalandhar. She practices formal poetry and inspirational prose to accentuate societal problems that people face in their day to day life. She prefers to write under a pen name – ‘Genesis’ which is interpreted as the origin of a new beginning.
The Girl Who Cried
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
I’m writing this to the girl who cried, I’m sorry you felt like you died. I know this wouldn’t make it fine, So forgive me if I crossed a line.
I see you waiting after all this time, With no one sparing you a single time. I know you went through a terrible life, Believe me you’ll get through this strife.
I know my words seem like a lie, But these horrible times will surely die. You will soon bloom like the Queen-of-the-Night, And will positively get through this plight.
The girl who cried was once my name, But sadly no one told me the same. I died each night, each time, each day, But I couldn’t ever follow this way.
So save yourself it’s all I ask, Don’t burden yourself with every task. Just be yourself and dry your tears, Scream and let go of all your fears.
Just A Tide
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
You can be the wisp, or you can be the storm. It might be rough, yet you needn’t conform.
They might try to thaw, from ice to ash. If that flays you raw, try not to crash.
No need to dry, those tears you hide. Whenever you cry, remember, it’s just a tide.
You are yourself, no change required. They can’t put you on a shelf, you aren’t some ‘thing’ acquired.
Terror.
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
Welcome to the world, Where terror isn’t a crime. So many people have hurled, Somehow, nothing changed over time.
I’m puffed-up and proud, To call myself an army brat. I stand out in a crowd, No matter where I’m at.
See, everyone in our nation, Can sleep a peaceful sleep. Because my father at his station, Makes sure that we do not weep.
Yet, bigoted politicians, Do not seem to care. They have made it their missions, To use words to ensnare.
They negotiate with the enemies, And always protect their skin. Feeding on our amenities, They betray their own kin.
We wished those unfulfilled words of honour, Become a wisp of hope. Patriotism lost its valour, And somehow meant a necklace of rope.
Hostage
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
How many women believe, That the wrongs happening to them are right? How many women will grieve, For the events that happen to them every night?
I’m not telling you to take it, Nor fake it and say, “It’s alright”. I’m asking you to not just sit, And act like it’s not a problem just cause it’s out of sight.
Nobody has the right to tell you what to do, Nor to tell you what to wear. They can’t push their opinion on you, And then snatch away your air.
There is no one else who holds you hostage, Except your own mind, Your life is a book, write your own page, You never know just how much you will find.
I Tried To Be . . .
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
I tried to be sugar, In a world full of spice. The world threw a dagger, Cause I tried to be nice.
I tried to be a friend, In a world filled with hate. The world asked me to end, Cause I tried to depend on fate.
I tried to be different, In a world so mundane. The world became a parent, Cause I didn’t try to be the same.
I tried to be the best, In a world that held me back. The world pointed out to the rest, Everything I ever did lack.
I tried to be myself, In a world as fake as ours. The world put me on the highest shelf, And then left me there for hours.
Darkness All Around
By Sabah Kaur Mann (Genesis)
Lost in the fields of my own mind, I drown in the river of regret. My essence somehow I cannot find, Millions cause me to fret.
And in those fields I find no light, Just darkness all around. And in those days I lose my might, And I realise I’m nowhere to be found.
The river rushes by so fast, My regrets I see flowing by. And sometimes I drown in at last, Still asking the question – Why?
My essence lost bit by bit, A trade with the devil it seems. And nothing ever seems to fit, Yet somehow I drown my screams.
I care for some who never care, I fret and fret for an empty face. My love I somehow cannot share, With those who keep changing their pace.
Be it fields or rivers, My essence or my mind. In the end I remember, People cannot always be kind.
" Young Writers' Collective" 