A Fairytale | Kuhi Sarmah

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

There's a villain in every story,

Either the evil step mother of the West

Or the wicked witch of the East,

It might be a monster or the beast.

How do the villain looks like?

Do they always have a black cap?

Have a shrilling or evil laugh?

Or does it wear a big scary mask?

Once I walk passed a mirror,

And saw her gazing at me.

I realized looking at the mirror,

I saw a villain that looks a lot like me.

A found a villain inside me,

Without a black cap or a scary mask, I see.

But the villain I found,

Try making me a prisoner but not one behind the bars.

It brings out my scares,

My fears, sadness and agresssion.

It causes me a lot of envy,

And leaves me with a deep impression.

There's a villain in every story,

A statement that is true.

But did no one tell you,

An angel exists too?

To fight the villain,

To bring back the colours.

And to make the day brighter,

That's what the mirror told me like a reciter.

You're the beauty and the beast,

Rupenzel and her step mom recides within me.

I'm the witch with the broom,

And also the angel to remove the gloom.

Our life is like every fairytale,

We carry all the characters without a name.

And like always the angel marks the victory,

We just need to work on its way.

अनकही बाते | Dhriti Modi

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

उससे मै बोहोत प्रेम करती थी

लेकिन वो यह बात नहीं जानता था

उस कागज़ को यह बात पता थी

की मेरी कलम, उस इंसान को मुझसे

ज्यादा चाहती है

तो उस बेमान कागज़ ने वो

सारे शब्द जो उस के लिए

बने थे उन्हें

अपने आप मै समां लिए,

अब तो वो बस एक याद बन के

रह गयी

अब वो बाते कई अनसुनी सी हो गयी

और मै उस कागज़ में खो सी गयी II

Something Tells Me To Go | Kavya Venkateshwaran

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Something tells me to go,

To go home not alone,

But with cheers and tears of friends and foes,

A journey - bound to undergo.

I think of my land well known,

The familiar trees, bushes, and breeze,

The songbirds who sing to me,

And the moon at night, that always seems to freeze.

They tell me to come home,

To come home - not forlorn,

But with my head held high, and a gentle smile,

And a badge of honour, that I wear with pride.

They tell me to come with stories,

Of times I refused to bow, or wallow in shame,

Of times when I didn’t necessarily win the game,

But persevered and stayed without disdain.

They tell me to come home,

To a land that might listen to a tale,

Of my struggles and my repeated pursuit of glory,

For my destination is home, and my duty - my journey.

तन-मन | Kiran Sharma

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

मखमली तन पर ख़ूबसूरत तानों-बानों का मलमल

कशीदाकारी से सजे हुए जाल से ढका मन l

सुरमई आँखों में सहेज कर रखा भावों का सैलाब

खनखनाती हँसी में भीगी सी आवाज़ l

पुकारा नही किसी को, न ही साथ माँगा

सफ़र की राहों पर चलना बदस्तूर जारी l

हौसलाअफजाई क्या करे कोई,

जहाँ के सितारे भी पीछे रह गए

मुकम्मल हो रही हैं मंशाएँ भी आहिस्ता-आहिस्ता

और मंजिलें-जहाँ पर रोशनाई हो गई

पर दिले आरज़ू है हमारी ll

ये लौ की तपन कायम हो

चारों ओर पुरसुकून आलम हो ll

Prema | Pavankumar Mamidi

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

సరిగమపదనిస రాగపు స్వరమా

తొలకరి పలుకుల ప్రేమ కుసుమమా

నా కోసం పుట్టావనిపించే నువ్వేనా ప్రేమా..

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

కలలోనైనా కనిపించని ఇలాంటి అందం

ఇలలో నువ్వై ఎదురొచ్చే ప్రతి నిమిషం

కడలై తాకే చలచల్లని నీ ప్రేమ వర్షం

అడగక ముందే నాకందిన గొప్ప వరం.

వలపుల తలపుల గానపు స్వరమా

కలలను నిజముగ మార్చిన వరమా

నా కోసం పుట్టావనిపించే నువ్వేనా ప్రేమా........

చిరునవ్వులతో పయనించిన మధుర ప్రయాణం

పరిణయ సుమమై విరబూసే అనుక్షణం

మనసున మనసై మురిపించిన ఈ ప్రేమ బంధం

ఏడడుగులతో అవ్వాలిక శతమానం.

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

ప్రేమంటే నువ్వా, నీ కోసం బ్రతికే నేనా..

సరిగమపదనిస రాగపు స్వరమా

తొలకరి పలుకుల ప్రేమ కుసుమమా

నా కోసం పుట్టావనిపించే నువ్వేనా ప్రేమా..

साध्य | Yashovardhan Patidar

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

शब्दों के शब्द से प्रश्नों के प्रश्न पूछ,

चाहतों के चाहने वालों से उनके कर्म पूछ,

पूछ की क्या था उनकी राहों में?

जो शून्य हो बेठे तुम।

नज़र आता नहीं अस्तित्व तुम्हारा,

ये अस्तित्व की 'ध्वनि' से पूछ,

पूछ कि क्या हैं वो तत्व में?

जो स्थिति में भी हो 'गैर' तुम।

कपट से क्या प्राय हैं पूछ,

कारक के भरतार का खोज पूछ,

अरे! पूछ कि क्या होगा उस पार?

जो होजाते 'तुम' ही में तुम।

प्रविचेतन ना पाकर व्याकुल हो तुम,

तुम्हीं वो वज़ह के 'तुम' ही में तुम और 'मैं' ही तुम,

पूछ कि क्यूँ 'मैं' और 'तुम' में तुम?

जो होजाते स्थिरता में 'अद्वैत' गुण।

ज्ञात नहीं नियम के 'साध्य' तुम्हारे,

प्रयोजन ना हो जब अस्तित्व! पूछ,

प्यारे! पूछ कि आसा से वचन क्यूँ?

जो मिल जाते शून्य में 'खुद' ही तुम।

सत्य का गुण क्यूँ हैं पूछ,

क्यूँ अंत में धारण ही पूछ,

पूछ कि 'अंश' में 'अनंत स्थिति' केसे?

जो रच देता 'ओ३म् आयाम' का मुझ और तुम!

अब आँसू ज़रा कम निकलते हैं | Neena Vivek

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

अब आँसूं ज़रा कम निकलते हैं

अब दर्द ज़रा कम होता है

वो मोड़ भी चला जायेगा,

जब तू भी हमें कम याद आयेगा।

इस दर्द के दरिया में

हम गोते लगाना सीख रहे हैं,

तेरी यादों के भँवर से

बच कर निकलना सीख रहे हैं,

सैलाब को तो आना ही था

ये भी पल मे गुज़र जायेगा

वो मोड़ भी चला जायेगा,

जब तू भी हमें कम याद आयेगा।

तेज़ हवाओं का डर किसे है

हमें तो तूफ़ानों की आदत हो गयी है,

तेरे ग़म का दिल से शुकराना

हमारे दर्दों में बरकत सी हो गयी है,

लतीफों पर तो दुनिया हंसती है

ग़म में हँस के दिखाओ तो मज़ा आयेगा

वो मोड़ भी चला जायेगा,

जब तू भी हमें कम याद आयेगा।

बस तेरी मुझसे मोहब्बत की वजह मिल जाती

तो सुकून आ जाता

वो इश्क़ था या क्या था, ये बात समझ आती

तो सुकून आ जाता

आग़ाज़ पीछे रह गया, अब तो अंजाम आयेगा

वो मोड़ भी चला जायेगा,

जब तू भी हमें कम याद आयेगा।

A Ballad For Starlit Nights | Aishani M Nanda

An ode to the stars, a ballad for the lamplights of ebony folds of the night.

Lining up, across the sphere of darkness, linking arms and making merry.

One feels extraordinarily content, when bathed by starlight,

Waltzing across the night, not unlike a moonlit faery.

An ode to stars, and all the silver images they etch into the expanse of nighttide.

The water bearer and the hunter, the maiden and her lover.

Grasping at the crescent’s shine, tumbling in her drapery, mimicking her stride.

Secrets of the night, whispered like bell chimes amongst the faintest of twinkles, lest the sun arrive too early, and their gossip be discovered.

An ode to stars, and their amorousness for humanity,

Caressing all humans equally, guiding them when ebony eclipses joy.

Cradling us like pearls, lending us their sheen, luring the darkness within us to sanity.

The way they shine brighter every time their humane lovers fall short of reaching them, simply playing coy.

An ode to stars, and all that is lovely,

All that makes one smile when the world refuses to turn.

The sun light’s pirouette shielding their slumber, tucked into the night, quite cozy,

I know all this, yet, there are still many starry secrets in the velvet fabric of yesternight for me to discern.

बारिश, चाय और तुम... | Tanuja Thakur

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

एक खूबसूरत सी शाम होगी,

और होगे तुम, बारिश और चाय के साथ।

क्योंकि ख्वाब बुने हैं हमने बातों बातों में,

जब भी तय कर लेंगे सैंकड़ों फासले।

वो होगी हमारी पहली मुलाकात ,

बारिश, चाय और जिंदगी के नाम।

सावन का दिन होगा और मौसम खुशनुमा,

न कड़कती हुई बिजली होगी और न ही शोर बादलों का।

सिर्फ खिली हुई धूप और , हल्की फुलकी बौछार,

ठंडी फ़िज़ा और भीनी भीनी सी खुशबू।

गरम चाय अदरक - इलाईची वाली जिसमे,

दोस्ती का ज़ायका होगा और अपनेपन की मिठास।

बेझिझक बातें होंगी या शायद,

खामोशी में ही कट जायेगा सारा वक़्त।

हमारी मुलाकात चंद लम्हों की ही सही,

काफी होगी गर इतना ही लिखा है साथ।

याद रह जाओगे तुम और उस दिन की बारिश और चाय।

Perils of An Otherwise Ordinary Day | Geetanjali Gandhi

“I saw a blind woman on the street

& helped her cross,

she hit me hard & said,

You loser! I didn’t want to cross.

Her punch was so hard,

it made me sigh & from nowhere, I got

this gift of black eye.

Oof! How I overcame my shock & moved ahead,

Thief! Thief! then suddenly someone said.

To catch that burglar, I threw a stone,

It got misfired, hit a bee-hive,

Bees swarmed me, bit me,

somehow I escaped, swollen and barely alive.

Looking not less than a monster now,

no wonder dogs stared at me & barked bow-bow.

I ran for my life but landed in a garbage bin,

what an embarrassment, whole crowd gave me a grin.

If this wasn’t enough for the day,

some dumb had enjoyed banana treat &

thrown that useless skin on the street,

oh! What unluck I stepped over it

& that last viable bone left in me,

was now broken to a bit.

Assembling myself together, getting up,

I crouched further &

Somehow dragged to the office,

Hey stinky! Move on - were the day’s greetings,

Get away, You damn air pollution,

How I Felt completely out of service.

Washing up in Lavatory ,

Was of no help,

For all the muck, filth ,

& complementary odour,

the cleaner gave such a fierce killer look,

so terrorizing to the core,

no horror film had ever had my soul shook.

Decided to call the day off,

Much to everyone’s relief,

But reaching home –

Felt a distant belief.

Loaded then myself into a taxi

A Sniff here and sniff there,

And brain of the driver soon realized

That his Nose disparagingly has been jeopardized.

An Extra or two currency offer,

And heartening wails of olfactorily traumatized colleagues,

Pushed the brave cabbie to a sense of sacrifice,

Such unparalleled valour, triggered salutations,

Putting to culmination the community’s cries.

Delivered at my doorstep oh finally,

The doorbell I rung threatened ominously,

A fear hollowed inside me, once back,

For the unlucky chap who’ll respond,

It’s time… yeah for his heart attack.”

Enroute from Bangalore | Priyanka Bhandarkar

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

I saw a Borewell.

Then again the sun provided an immediate disguise to the copper,aluminium and plastic utensils.

A brown glaze surrounded the hours of dawn.The dew requiring no colors.The water was being flushed,the people rather living it.

A probability aspect of cleaning,washing and squatting.

The women and children standing the strength of time.Just parted the involuntary motion of those vulnerables.Finger tips holding each other.one stand.two standing.full waiting.

A packet of chips in my hand,I watched opening the window of my car.

Laughing at these stars and making fun.

These are but interpersonal and curious elements.

And I awarded a medal to myself for these observations.

The Pride of the country are the people.In this third world nation filled with intellectuals and runts.

And I count the number of buildings with much satisfaction.

Just hotels,shops and public toilets down the road.

And the service road ended.Anyways I was proud of the bridge,traffic signals and flyovers.

The roads were crowded with vehicles.The people were in jeopardy.I like on the crossroads of destiny was amazed watching the pedestrians.

Toys,flowers and raw mangoes were being sold.

The sweat,the toil and tears.

Sellers,Middle class or whores?

Or was it remorse?resentment?

Bicycles,scooters,cars and trucks…..

Once Upon A Good Time | Atharva Rewatkar

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Those were the good old days

when I'd a beautiful face to gaze.

Not that my life was filled with glee

but her support made the day for me.

Not that I led a life of regrets

something that everyone forgets

But the blanket of her bliss

cloaked them all with a kiss.

Not that Aphrodite grew jealous

of our relation so fabulous.

Since you walk along my side,

all the Happiness in me does abide.

Not that I never made you weep

and the tears that you keep

but it was your company

that made us endure the cacophony.

With beacon from the clouds grey

falling on your face as you pray.

As rays falling on the bloom

you kept me away from every gloom.

Not that I was a lover ardent

not to understand the flow of current.

Not that I tried my level best

to impose my wishes in haste.

Things got sweet sometimes

and bitter many times.

Sometimes we conversed through eyes

painted in amusing sulky dyes.

But as the Wise people say

every good time has to end one day.

No one sees the fateful tomorrow

that may be filled with joy or sorrow.

So one day conflict brew

as the tensions between us grew.

No relation cloaked by qualm

has ever ended in a manner calm.

I remained too adamant

on arguments that were scant

Suspicion in our relationship contain

which became unbearable to sustain.

Her wounds were too deep

as my tongue in her sorrow reek.

As emotions took over rationality

both of us lost our individuality.

Tears on her cheeks glistened

as her soul wanted to be listened

I was too angered and impolite

to realise her emotions in sight.

Neither did she have respect

nor did I feel the need to retrospect

When there lay no remorse.

what's the need to feel morose?

So did we decide to part

for the betterment of each counterpart

Not that I was too content

but now I had nothing left to lament.

O those Days of the Good Time!

They were surreal and sublime

As I say goodbye to you.

to traverse on roads; dark and new.

Now that I've nothing left more

nor she has anything to adore.

Now her memories do haunt me

in what wrongs I did to thee.

Colours of Life | Papia Ghosh

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

I sat on the sand dunes of time,

With stardust of happiness rumpling my curls,

Watching the rainbow of desires smile across the heavens,

Gazing at the surging colours of life rushing by.

Life, a maelstrom of rich colours,

Overflowing from the Creator’s palette,

Diverging and melding into new hues,

Frolicking in gaiety, filling every void.

Dancing on the swirling foam

Sailed many a kindred and friend,

Their white bellowing sails filled the horizon,

I watched them move to eternity round the bend.

Their paths had crisscrossed mine,

Some with gravelly colourful pebbles

Adorned with fragrant exotic flowers,

Life’s garden of joys and sorrows filling my earthly hours.

My jars of camaraderie basting in the sun,

Pickled with spices of love and hate

Tickled my tastebuds, inviting me,

As I licked my fingers to understand their taste.

They metamorphosed my path of monotony

Into valleys of adventures and ravines of risk,

Where my fate ran into blind lanes,

With near death experiences all too brisk.

The gentle drops of rain mingled in warm tears

moistened my dust stained soul,

healing the clandestine crevices of my broken heart,

With rays of romantic hopes, filling every hole.

The unruly winds carried wisps of my moments

Over the waters of the choppy sea,

Where death overrules life,

Germinating a new life, a new me.

The Pain That I Went Through | Ricky Kmenlang Mawlong

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Life has taught me many things.

Since my childhood, life seems to have no meaning.

Poverty stuck us really down.

We were not the many of that town.

As I go further ahead with life

Each day I was struggling to strife.

Every kid of my age seems so happy.

I consider myself to be born unlucky.

Giving up was almost in all my veins.

Drought experience even when there’s a rain.

Seven siblings we live together.

We do feel empty, and no one could figure.

Our sweety Mum is so busy.

To make us stay strong and healthy.

Our dad run away and left us just like that.

O our world was in chaos and was really shattered.

Many years we beg and cry for help.

Neighbours do laugh at us whenever we seek help.

Looking us down was their only thing.

Our only dream was to the best thing.

Sickness came and stroked us one by one.

Death with its sting even came to haunt.

God was the only assurance.

Though our prayers were not answered at a glance.

Faith do keep us to fly ahead.

Weak and fragile we always fight till death.

Yeah, our eldest won the victory.

And others thought it’s only a mystery.

We did our best to climb for success.

All of us we did our very best.

Though poverty lived on our way

We grow and live whenever we pray.

We all now thanking to God.

Who is the only one who has not forgot.

Sheltering us all from shamed and pained

He blessed us from time and again.

Now that I have been freed from the past.

Life has taught me to handle every task.

Love and understanding are on my veins.

To help the other who is still in pain.

O life! how beautiful you are

I will spread you name to near and far.

You once taught me as how to live.

And now it's my time on how to give.

பெண்கள் | Haritha Jennifer D

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

பிஞ்சுக்கு உயிர்

கொடுப்பவள் நீயே!

நஞ்சுக்கு உயிரேடுப்பவலும்

நீயே காளியாக!

வேண்டாம்வேணடாமென்று அன்று பிறந்தாலும்

வேண்டும்வேண்டும் என்றளவுக்கு இன்று

பலராலும் போற்றப்பட்டு நாட்டின்

கண்களாகியது நம் பெண்களே!!

உன்னைக் கருவிலேயே

கலைக்கத் துடிப்போரையும்

உன் இதயம்

துடிக்கும் வரை

நிலைக்க வைப்பவள்

நீ அல்லவா!

பெண்ணே நீ

வெறுங்கலை அல்ல!

ஏனென்றால் நீ

அருபதில் ஒன்றல்ல!!

அருபதையுமே உன்னில்

வைத்திருக்கும் பெருங்கலையே

நீ தான்!

பெண்கள் எறும்புகள் போன்று

சுறுசுறுப்பாக சுற்றித் திரிந்து

சிறுசிறு குறும்புகள் புரிந்தாலும்

குணத்தில் கரும்புகள் போன்றவர்களே!

பெண்ணே நீ-தலையில்

அணிவதோ மல்லிப்'பூ'

ஆனால் முகத்தில்

அணிவதோ சிரிப்'பு'

நீ விலைக்கொடுத்து

வாங்குவதோ பொன்நகை

விலையே இல்லாமல்

பிறருக்குக் கொடுப்பதோ

உன்னுடைய புன்னகை!

கஷ்டங்களை உன்னில்

மறைத்து அதிர்ஷ்டங்களை

பிறருக்குக் கொடுக்கும்

தேவதை நீ!

பெண்கள் பலவீனமான

பாலினம் என்றனர்

மூடர்கள் சிலர்;

அந்த மூடர்களையே

தாங்கும் பூமிமாதா

ஒரு பெண்!

பெண்கள் பலவீனமானவர்கள்

அல்ல; பலவிதமானவர்களே!!

தன்னலம் இவர்களுக்கு

கானல்நீர் போன்றது

பொதுநலமே இவர்களுக்கு

நதிநீர் ஆயிற்று

பெண்ணே நீயொரு

மதி, தேய்வதிலல்ல;

பிறரைத் தேற்றுவதிலும்;

விதியை வெல்வதிலுமே!

மகளான நீ

தாயுமாகி, தாயுமானவனாலும்

பாராட்டப்பெற்றவள் நீ!

பல பிம்பங்களைப் பெற்று

நாட்டிற்கே கம்பமாகிறாய்!

எல்லை இல்லா அலைகளைப்

போன்ற உன் பெருமைகள்

மலைகளின் உச்சத்தை அடைய

என் மனமார்ந்த வாழ்த்துக்கள்!!!

Unknown Destiny | Mudavath Priyatham Naik

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Gazing at the parallel tracks,

she reckons something in her life

that they never meet.

Quite low perhaps, they both run

in their own parallel axes,

only the railroad binds them

beneath, though can never be seen

she reckons her bond with someone

so called bond existed virtually,

having a glance through

a hole of world's darkness.

little known to her, she was

bound to those bars of

homemade prison.

little known to her, she cannot

make the tracks meet

running at a low distance parting

a little unknown to the little one

defining life is a void task,

to meet up something undesired.

Is it worthfull calling her life

looking through the lens of

her family or society or is it

a so called life that is undefined!

On My Way Home | Ojasvi Khare

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

On my way

The breeze in the trees

jolted my sight

aroma from the meadows

halted the heady jaunt

The sight was garnished in vision

reminiscing my credulous adolescence

it brought tears that were veiled

Why didn't we take this decision

all this while

On my way

there were glimpses of the summer house

An assemblage for the family members

A corral for the tots to be frolicsome

Now a rented cottage for others to prowl

The days were long with soothing evenings

The nights were haunting with ghoulish tales

The place was always placid when we were there

Not anymore

On my way

I decided to be a bairn again

left my afflictions in the concrete realm

Apt to face the horizon in my nostalgic ground

realising this is the feeling I wanted all long

The house will be lit once again

with the tapestry of new memories

I pledge to never to let go of this ardor

and cherish it forever.

On my way…..

Bhikharin | Mannat Bhargav

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Mostly

seeing and not seeing her

is the same.

This is the crossroad

you might take

a second to pass

if there were not a million people

doing the same

just then.

Before you

her existence lies bare

for you

she barely exists

except

when she stretches her hand

right at you

without expression.

She can make you writhe

if you were to look at her

for a second more.

But you choose

not seeing her–

yet again.

So she must scratch

that hand wresting on your knee

and leave

without expression–

so you'll know

forever

she exists.

The Push That Leads To | Tahaa Johar Ali

THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Do it, not just because you owe it to yourself

The closets filled up, skulls all over the shelves

All were created equal, don't mean the round peg's a square

Then what have you indulging in the age of debate of what's not and what's fair

The very attitude that's been a concern today

Will be the fortitude to unite your kingdom and lead the way