A Mythical Site, by Shreya M.K

 

Dark as if the sun had never risen,

Lonely as if people had never been born.

Just me in the street,

At the mythical site.

 

Where the phoenix was often viewed,

Where the pegasus was lent for a ride,

Where the centaur was kept as a pet-

But no, this wasn’t a dream.

 

Dodos roamed around,

Constellations came to life,

And the trees seemed wise.

 

No human but me,

And the only sound

Is of crackling twigs

And the sighing wind.

 

The essence of magic

In the air,

The taste of glory,

Whispering through my hair.

 

The land of imagination,

Far away from any town,

Has many mysteries,

But is never to be found.

 

 

A Premonition, by Indushree M.

 

Long before I had a vision,

It was an omen-

Of a species’ succession.

It started small,

But wiped out humanity once and for all.

 

It seemed to be a better race;

Diligently progressing at a faster pace.

It thought of us as merely monkeys

That used trinkets and tools.

 

In a rush, things dawned upon me-

That maybe, this could come true.

We could become crude beings of the past-

Darwin’s theories proved anew.

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I met him at midnight, by Aditi Gopalan

 

He treads softly,

 

In all silence

 

But for the slightest

 

Rustling his bare feet make

 

As they crush yellow leaves

 

On the undulating ground.

 

I met him at midnight in the forest of my dreams.

 

I’ve known him all my life

 

But it’s only tonight I feel

 

The harsh radiance

 

His silhouette inflicts on me.

 

Have I told you of

 

His cape of morality?

 

He wears it with the same pride

 

I have- to be worthy

 

Of his love.

 

How strange is it that

 

He knows not of his magic and I

 

Know not the purpose

 

Of his visit.

 

How strange that

 

This is my wonderland and

 

Somehow he is here.

 

Yes, I know

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I talk about him like he put stars in the sky.

 

But if you told me he did,

 

I would believe you.

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Let her, by Lipika Rajashekhar

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A powerful mind,

A passionate soul,

She can create a masterpiece that stands apart.

 

With fire for eyes,

A fiery heart,

She can achieve anything she wants.

 

Let her experience,

Let her feel.

Fill her with the confidence that hides deep within.

She can be independent.

She can be brave.

She can think for herself without you showing the way.

 

You’ll never understand

The difference she can make

Until you stop your thoughts of prejudice.

 

Believe, have faith

In all that she says.

You’ll see her wonders surround you.

 

Let her experience,

Let her feel.

Fill her with the confidence that hides deep within.

She can be independent.

She can be brave.

She can think for herself without you showing the way.

 

What you’re made of is what she’s made of.

She is as different as you are.

Give her a chance to prove herself,

A chance to stand.

She can too.

 

 

Nostalgia, by Lipika Rajashekhar

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I’d love to turn the clock back,

To the days not long ago,

To a time when all was perfect,

And the pace was quiet and slow.

 

To when we didn’t have video games;

All we had was friends.

Memories of childhood may fade one day,

But not the games we all played.

 

I’m writing this down on paper,

Hoping you’ll find it someday.

 

Memories are all we’ve got.

If I could have a wish,

All I would ever want,

Is to go back to the days when those memories didn’t haunt.

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Shard, by Maya Manivannan

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You’re not quite broken;

 

But your heart has scars

 

From being left to its own devices

 

One too many a dark and lonely night.

 

And if I could take away the pain,

 

I would.

 

I’ll build you a fortress

 

To save you from yourself,

 

For your soul screams of danger

 

And your eyes beg for sin.

 

I fear the ferocity of your gaze,

 

Because you look at me

 

Like you’re ready to be torn apart.

 

And there’s nothing I would rather do.

 

You haunt me.

 

But as I watch you glittering in the dark-

 

A piece of broken glass-

 

I realise.

 

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

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The Red Flower, by Shreya M.K

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As the canopy of trees turned black,

And the mound of ash grew,

There was no turning back-

The red flowers’ legend rang true.

 

The evergreens couldn’t escape,

And the red flower was fast.

Its vines spread like poison,

In a sea great and vast.

 

The foliage swayed as if in grief,

The frogs croaked out a plea,

Bees were abuzz with fear,

The birds were no longer here.

 

But could this be?

A ray of hope-

A tiny sapling that survived the carnage-

Grew and made

Itself a home.

 

The forest could rest,

It would prevail,

In the face of destruction,

And this time, for forever.

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Untitled, by Lipika Rajashekhar

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I don’t know where to start anymore.

Feel so low, feel so sore.

My soul is bruising;

Holding on to illusions;

Hoping to one day, fly away.

 

How, oh how,

Can a bird stay on the ground,

When it has wings to fly,

And it’s keen to fly high?

How, oh how long,

Can a bird stay on the ground,

Before its wings are stopped,

Because ‘not for me’ is what it thought?

Tell me how,

Just tell me how.

 

My head is always in the clouds-

I don’t want to follow the crowd-

With a mind that’s screaming;

Can only do so much healing.

Found fallen, fading in the dust.

 

How, oh how,

Can a bird stay on the ground,

When it has wings to fly,

And it’s keen to fly high?

How, oh how long,

Can a bird stay on the ground,

Before its wings are stopped,

Becayse ‘not for me’ is what it thought?

Tell me how,

Just tell me how.

 

How, oh how,

Can a bird stay soft,

While its wings are plucked off?

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Writings (I), by Shreyansi Sahai

 

|| One ||

 

''Hard, isn't it?'' She started. ''Trying to stay strong for everyone around you, with a pasted on smile that quickly goes away when you're alone.''

I watched her as she moved around the room, tracing her fingertips across the pastel of the walls.

''It is tough- trying to kill something that's on the inside, that eats you alive. But the thing is, I'm still trying to learn to love myself and most of the time I am terrified that no one is ever going to see the light in me. That's not your fault, and it is not mine either. I think we caught each other at bad times.'' She smiled, ''you're fully grown and I am still arching towards whatever sunshine I can find.'' And continued-

''I can't apologize for the days I can barely find my knees, I won't apologize for how earnestly I needed you to be there for me. Neither for how I fall apart subtly and not loudly.'' I scanned her face- how those brown orbs had lost their light.

 

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and painted on a smile again. ''There are days when my body is an open hand, practically begging for help, for you to be there. But I am sorry that no one ever taught you how to care. It's okay, though. We both are learning to adore each other differently. Sometimes it just means we can't be in the same room when it happens.'' Her gaze met mine for a brief second.

''In the meantime, I am going to grow without you and God, I hope it's beautiful. I hope it is hopeful. I hope we're both okay.'' She finished, staring out the window where the sunlight bounced off of her soft skin.

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Writings (II), by Shreyansi Sahai

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|| Two ||

 

"Egg shells," I wrote. "It felt like walking on egg shells."

 

Dear Diary,

It wasn't all that bad, though. If I tip toed in just the right pattern- If I watched my steps carefully- It was beautiful. We were beautiful.

But sometimes, the egg shells cracked if even just the wind blew in the wrong way. It was hard- and soon my bones started to ache.

 

He made me believe that the world was mine but was also quick to shatter it at my feet; Spat careless comments and threw sharp words at me. Maybe I deserved it, I'm not so clean.

 

It's difficult, you know? Because everything has a breaking point. And when it comes to broken hearts, there's only so many times you can piece yourself back together before you realize you can't go through it anymore.

 

I guess I've reached mine..Sometimes you can love somebody with all of your heart and at the same time- Not want them back.

 

//You've been hurt so many times that you'd rather break your own heart by missing them than give them the opportunity to do it again.//

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