A Summer Day - By Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari

Written By: Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari brings us a poignant glimpse into the essence of youthful summers with her poem, "A Summer Day." This evocative piece is part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, showcasing the simplicity and beauty of carefree days spent under the sun. With an emphasis on the fleeting nature of youth, Zainab captures the tender moments of a summer filled with laughter, nostalgia, and hope. Her work invites readers to reminisce about their own warm days of freedom and friendship, offering a universal theme that resonates with many.

About the Work

"A Summer Day" elegantly captures the mood of a youthful summer with vivid imagery and a nostalgic tone. Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari employs a lyrical style to highlight the intimate moments shared between friends, where innocence and yearning intertwine. The poem draws readers into a world of poolside laughter, sticky ice cream fingers, and hazy afternoons, all juxtaposed with a longing for connection. Through her artful depiction of summer, Zainab invites us to savor the present while cherishing memories of simpler times.

A Summer Day

Original Submission by Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari

* A Summer Day

The warm languid sultry breeze

wafts our faces on a sunny Thursday.

* The summer is too young to have a name.

* We barrel headfirst into the pool

with your hand in mine.

* Your hair sticks to your cheeks,

* you run your hands through the strands and

* it stays exactly where you left it.

* Curled towards the sky

* and bunched up and

* tucked behind your ears.

* The chlorine has set into

* your hair and my eyes,

* and my mood ring is

* stuck on violet

* while we swim in dappled sunlight

beneath the trees.

* This summer I shall hope.

* That you will look at me

the way I look at you.

When the school’s closed

and we waste our days away

* in freedom, feeling the sweaty tiles beneath our feet.

*

This is a summer we’ll spend

* riding bikes around the block

* with sticky hands and

* ice cream riddled handles.

* The summer is our youth.

* *

When I reach for your hand I-

* pretend there are mosquitos I'm swatting for.

* But you laugh,

and tug it close anyway.

* We are cats fighting in the summertime.

* Porch days we spend

watching dragonflies

* with mangoes and watermelon seeds,

and a haze of cigarette smoke.

* The air is humid like my mouth when it is open in longing.

* “I used to be holy before you made me human.”

* My mother’s yells will echo

* as she chastises us to come back inside.

* We’ll step into the blissful shade and

she’ll hand us strawberry shakes,

* which we’ll sneak back out and

* toast to the sun and the sky.

* The damp earth sticks to my feet

* and my hair is shining green and gold,

* like the moss colony in the river

* down the road.

* I call for forever nights and drunken pollen.

* The sun listens and

* the sky turns indigo and purple

* and red like the strawberries we picked

* for my mother.

* * You ask me to stay but I’ll

* bid you goodnight and

* promise to meet you tomorrow

* by the pool.

* And you ask me ‘what if there is a summer shower?’

* So I tell you I’ll bring over

* pomegranates and lilies from the pond,

* and comics to read with the AC turned on,

* with the beat-up radio playing,

* that your dad gifted you before he left.

* * I avoid the glaze that

* comes over your eyes when

* you solemnly nod to me,

* as if we are talking

from across borders

* on walkie-talkies.

* I’ll tug your hair and run off,

* while you scream my name

through startled chortles.

* What I wouldn’t give to relive this day

over and over.

* I’ll step into the kitchen,

* drenched in the essence of summer.

* My mum will usher me off to take a shower

and I’ll stare at my toothpaste splattered reflection,

* while imagining you right beside me.

* * When midnight ticks closer,

I’ll heave my windows wide open

and cradle a bowl of cereal,

* that I’ll imagine to be your face.

The ghosts of our past summers

still haunt me with

* shivers and melancholic murmurs.

I’ll drink the water on my nightstand

from three nights ago

* that you left there,

reminding me not to forget.

* Before I surrender to sleep,

* I’ll whisper one last prayer to the summer…

* * All I wish from this world,

all I wish

* is for a little bit of peace

at the end of the day,

* with a palette that has a yellow the shade of memories.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the power of words and creativity from around the world. It offers writers and poets a prestigious platform to share their voices and stories, fostering a vibrant community of literary talent. This competition invites participants to explore diverse themes and express their unique perspectives, contributing to a rich tapestry of global narratives.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Zainab Ubaidullah Ansari for sharing "A Summer Day" with us. Her contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 beautifully encapsulates the essence of summer and youth. We look forward to witnessing more of her poetic explorations and are grateful for the insights and emotions she has shared through her work.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.