Poetry

By Selina Toussaint-Peterson Recently I saw an article that discussed skin bleaching, I have so much to say on this topic don't worry I won’t start preaching. The skin on your body was formed just for you, Don't let anyone make you feel less than like an animal in the zoo. Your melanin complexion helps to protect you from the sun, Stop worrying about your complexion go out there and have fun. The disturbing trend promoting the need for ethnics to bleach their skin, Isn't in y

By Rosh Williams Never had much Nor do I now. I never will crave more than what I need. Not much in my pocket, But still – I offer a hand if you need. Rich in my thoughts, Rich in discipline. Born with a heart so full – To understand, To feel deeply. I welcome all with open wings, But when balance fades, I burn the bridges. For the faith I hold in these wings Is stronger than anything in this world. No one can steal the courage or the fire within me. Each day, a whisper re

By Kshitij Kawatra हम हमीं के अब नहीं शायद दिवाने हो गए अपनी ही हम फ़िल्म के हीरो पुराने हो गए रात दिन की नौकरी सोए न सोने दे ये पर इक हँसी से कितने रोशन आशियाने हो गए बाँध कर जो वक़्त खूँठे से रखा करते थे हम संग उन के सहल वो लम्हे बिताने/गँवाने हो गए है नज़र आती झलक तुझ में मेरे अज्दाद की इस बहाने उनसे भी मिलने मिलाने हो गए लड़खड़ाते हैं क़दम रुकना न सीखा हमने पर खानदानी ढीट गिर गिर कर स्याने हो गए भूक गर्मी नींद बे-चैनी या किलकारी तिरी याद मुझ को मुख़्तलिफ़ सारे तर

By Kshitij Kawatra किताबें सब जलाना चाहता हूँ नई दुनिया बनाना चाहता हूँ सिखाए जोड़ने अल्फ़ाज़ कोई दिल-ए-सोज़ाँ बुझाना चाहता हूँ गुल-ए-दाग़-ए-जुनूँ की आरज़ू है बहाराँ का बहाना चाहता हूँ हुआ मशहूर मैं तेरी इनायत सभी को ये बताना चाहता हूँ मुझे आया नहीं फ़न जीतने का जिसे देखूँ हराना चाहता हूँ हँसी में तेरी कुछ पल के लिए मैं ये हौल-ए-दिल छुपाना चाहता हूँ गिरेबाँ चाक ले दर दर फिर मैं किसे जाने रिझाना चाहता हूँ By Kshitij Kawatra

By Kshitij Kawatra बर्बाद कर मेरे सभी रिश्ते यहाँ कब रोकने से है रुकी सैफ़-ए-ज़बाँ मत पूछ तू क्या इश्क़ में हासिल हुआ मैं मावरा था आलम-ए-सूद-ओ-ज़ियाँ है ढूँढती फिरती मुझे दुनिया कहीं मैं छुप गया जैसे ख़ुदा का हूँ निशाँ तय कर चुका मैं मंज़िलें जो दूर की क्या फ़िक्र फ़स्ल-ए-गुल मिले या फिर ख़िज़ाँ था काम ग़ैरत तेरा मुझ को रोकना क्यों संग मेरे चल पड़ी ओ राएगाँ क्या फ़िक्र उनको जो हुए अहल-ए-चमन गुलज़ार की चिंता में डूबा बाग़बाँ मैं ढूंढता था जब मदद मेरे ख़ुदा तू ने वफ़ा क

By Kshitij Kawatra गुलशन को कर दें एक सा कहने लगे हज़रात अब यक रंग फूलों से सजे हो बिन महक बाग़ात अब हमने न छोड़ी थी कसर जब बंदगी में रात दिन भेजी दुआएँ ऐ ख़ुदा क्यों चुप खड़ा बे-बात अब कहने लगी दुनिया के तुम उम्मीद रखना छोड़ दो उम्मीद से क़ायम मगर धरती पे हैं सजदात अब हर दिन नई इक आग दुनिया को जलाती थी दिखी यूँ रूख बदल लाई हवा घर पर ये इम्कानात अब यूँ तो सभी ने था सुना चर्चा हमारे वस्ल का मौसम हुआ है हिज्र का हो शहर में बरसात अब मैं तो सलीका ढूंढता था रिज़्क की इस दौ

By Aeriel Holman We have so many memories, Rolling in our brain Like the sea… Like ocean waves. They spill into one another And crash together Foaming at the mouth… Our mouth… That tasted foam too early That knew too much While innocence was still required. All is tainted now By mermaid’s seafoam… What an ugly thing… Even though, As we all know, Aphrodite was made of foam And another thing That foams. And we recall its taste, still. By Aeriel Holman

By Aeriel Holman Bedridden with bile on the taste buds, Washing it away with lemon and lime and salt Saltines and 7-Up can cure cancer And coincidentally anything in between. Happy Birthday to me , I thought —thinking about being out drinking— A wasted day of 21st birth got worse. I was told premature plans Of your pretty, but petty proposal, And I prophesized—appropriately— The answer before the proclamation. Sick to the stomach and ill inside, that’s How I lost you—all befo

By Aeriel Holman Tonight, while making dinner, I had a Weird introspection about God. I had to make some meal-in-a- box that was more soup than actual food. as I stood in front of the stove more statue than chef I was waiting for my creation to boil. At first the mess is all liquid pinches of meat chunks of spices clumped with transparent rice You can barely make it out. I was staring down as heat made the center bubble pushing fermenting milk aside and astride domes of wate

By Robin Rivadeneira ¿Por qué criticamos nuestro alrededor? ¿Por qué cuestionamos ciertos hechos? Más bien, ¿por qué no cuestionamos todo? Y ¿Para qué criticamos? De no cuestionar no creceríamos De no criticar no aprenderíamos Estúpidos ignorantes seríamos. By Robin Rivadeneira

By Robin Rivadeneira Me fui a caminar Buscando algún otro lugar para mis lágrimas sepultar, antes de que me rompa. Muy lejos no pude llegar. Las piernas no me fallan, el corazón y la mente si. Como una cuncuna Obligados a arquearse para avanzar. ¿Es que no lo ves? ¿No lo entiendes? Cada ritmo es único, las melodías por igual. Irreplicable. El desorden su sentido tiene, como el verso “el amor nos separará”. Si el amor iba conmigo, el dolor no se quedó atrás. By Robin Rivad

By Edvelyn Lee An awkward peace the sun after a storm delusion of everything is alright nonetheless, I bask in the ray feeling the warmth as I laid as though I never tore my heart out and tear ducts intact grateful for the day that comes after the chilling and haunting night for now I will seep in the serene quietness while fearing for the chaotic loudness thats looming By Edvelyn Lee

By Edvelyn Lee Purple is my favourite colour It resonated with me the moment I laid my eyes on it Whilst colouring the picture books, it was just a pretty violet the same violet in the rainbows after a storm Whilst choosing my mechanical pencil, it was in due time I knew what this indigo symbolises loyalty & royalty a reflection of who I wanted to embody Whilst coming of age to present, it was also the attaching strings and stings of bruises a haunting gut feeling of

By Edvelyn Lee "What is your dream?" Barbie with Papa & Mama last night was fun The silhouette on the handbook became pink and purple "Fashion designer!" "What's your dream?" Adorned in stars and sparkles like Mariposa Wearing cotton in colours I loved since young "An artist." "Where are you going now?" Home with Papa & Mama would be nice Carefully tucking away my certificate worth thousands "Hopefully an internship-" "How's your job?" Only thing similar to the childhoo

By Edvelyn Lee The truth is it never goes away yet I pray for it to evaporate In any form it takes as tears plays as constant reminders It is an infected wound and there are mutating cells Palpitating heart knowingly grows a friend or foe I may be limping now and smile like a father accepting your sins I will be immobilised soon and face the guilt of a liar I could never forgive Incapable and unfairness held hands together Here they birth an angry daughter Mirror or

By Edvelyn Lee I truly understand Nobody can Understand, you extend stops at feeling It stops there. You overcame because you had a loving home My healing is solitary You grew in solidary of kindness It flourishes I'm thrown in pits of darkness It festers menacingly So no, you will never understand me. I am all I have, you are everything I envy When I crumble, whispers from the grim reaper pounds my head When I tumble, will-o-the-wisp invites me for a hug And once I scr

By Edvelyn Lee In this rat race, imprisoned us the peace makes In times of distress, we suppressed the deep mess In hopes of the old rays as we slowly lost our ways In this rat race, we tried to anchor the peace made The mind floats old times to light, the heart follows suit in feeling light The pine in connecting to past, the promise we told in full trust The grind that grayed us so fast, all in pray of freedom from tasks The day we find ourselves again, we delved our child

This piece is a social commentary using the model of a queen in a deck of playing cards with a twist of fantasy. On one side, the queen is a portrait of a perfect leader in front of a stable society. While on the other side, it reveals her true nature of corruption. On the bottom of the card, the queen is snickering while her society crumbles.

By Aden Maloney In every single way With every waking day I hope and I pray Someday you will say you love me too I wish I could lie And say that you are not on my mind Sometimes I would rather be blind Cause I look into your eyes And become impaired by your gaze It sets my heart ablaze Now I know that it’s true I’m in love with you By Aden Maloney

By Peter Harris There once was a colourful bird Who lived in the rainforest high, She sang to the sun and the silver moon, Her colours a spark in the sky. But the trees crashed down with a thunderous sound, And her song was a last goodbye. There once was a cute little field mouse, Who scurried through grasses so tall, She nibbled on seeds in the warm spring breeze, And built her a nest in the fall. But the grass gave way to concrete and clay, And her world grew no space at