A Wanderer's Tale of Woe - By FRANCESCA PELLI

Written By: FRANCESCA PELLI

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Francesca Pelli graces the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 with her evocative poem, "A Wanderer's Tale of Woe." Set within the poetry category, Pelli's work intricately explores the nuanced emotions of solitude and the elusive search for belonging. Through her poignant verses, she invites us into the inner world of a wanderer, a theme that resonates deeply with readers on their own journeys.

About the Work

"A Wanderer's Tale of Woe" captures the bittersweet reality of a life spent in perpetual motion. Francesca Pelli's literary style is marked by vivid imagery and introspective reflections that delve into themes of isolation and the universal longing for connection. The poem's melancholic tone and rhythmic flow evoke a sense of longing that is both personal and universally relatable, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of identity and belonging.

A Wanderer's Tale of Woe

Original Submission by FRANCESCA PELLI

Monday, 17 December 2018

A Wanderer's Tale of Woe

How the sweetness becomes bitter. Once the novelty of your appearance or return have worn off, those around you slot back into - or continue - their lives ... from which you have been invisible and far. The invitations die down, the questions subside, your excitement of telling others you've lived away or have been away fades and you become one, no-one, just… there.

It's a lonely road this one, one where you can go absolutely anywhere and be with anyone and feel like you belong when you get wherever. And belong, even for a little. Until you realise that the road you have taken, the one you are taking is yours and yours alone. That no matter where you are or where you go, you're just a passer-by.

So you wave and keep moving, moving, moving - maybe to find someone who will say 'Hey! Stop what you're doing, don't go where you're going and stay here with me, here in my heart. I've been waiting for you.' And perhaps it's that searching that makes your heart open wider and the borders fall away faster as you reach out and smile for a kindred spirit. And then you find that often, their heart is more closed, the borders are well-guarded and you've been looking into a world of distrust, the mirror of your aloneness.

The echo of what you do and how you see the world on your journey rebounds constantly. The emptiness of the choices you've made and the loss of bonds you believed forged. The hope that this time will be different and your presence or absence will be noticed, felt.

The time slips by and you slide through the days and nights, looking, hoping, wanting to believe that you will find your place. Trying to trust that your dream is just around the corner. That you will make it, wherever you are. That someone will notice and give you a hug. Actually, even if you don't make it; that would be good.

But it may or may not ever come so you keep going, going, going and in some quiet moments of reflection you know ~Home is always where you are. No matter who is there, or not.

Neither here nor there

Invisible

Don’t you care?

No-one to miss you no-one to wonder where you are

Solitude is a plane ticket to a place

you are.

Solitude is freedom

Freedom turns empty

Loneliness becomes your soundtrack-

'When are you back?', asks an empty home..

'When are you back to sit here alone?'

©Francesca Pelli Tbilisi, Georgia 29 July 2018

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar offers a prestigious platform for poets and writers worldwide to showcase their talents. This esteemed competition celebrates the diversity and creativity of voices across the globe, encouraging participants to explore and express their unique perspectives through writing.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Francesca Pelli for her moving contribution, "A Wanderer's Tale of Woe," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her exploration of solitude and belonging offers profound insights into the human experience. Thank you, Francesca, for sharing your poetic journey with us.

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.