Being Home is not the same as Love - By Priyanka Das

Written By: Priyanka Das

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Priyanka Das presents a poignant piece titled "Being Home is not the same as Love." This evocative poem, submitted in the Poetry category, delves into the nuanced themes of home, love, and the restless pursuit of dreams. Through vivid imagery and a reflective tone, Das's work invites readers to ponder the delicate balance between seeking comfort and chasing aspirations.

About the Work

Priyanka Das's poem "Being Home is not the same as Love" employs rich imagery and a contemplative mood to explore the contrasts between home and love. The narrative, centered around a duck's yearning for the skies while tethered to the water, serves as a metaphor for the eternal quest for something beyond tangible comfort. The poem's lyrical style and thoughtful message resonate deeply, capturing the essence of longing and the bittersweet realization of unfulfilled dreams.

Being Home is not the same as Love

Original Submission by Priyanka Das

Being home is not the same as Love

The duck spent years

trying to touch the clouds above,

the water carried its home,

mistaking shelter for love.

Each dawn it stretched its silver wings

to chase the fading blue,

while the lake held every fallen feather,

every dream it never knew.

The sky remained a distant hymn,

a promise never heard,

yet still the duck kept lifting higher,

faithful as a wounded bird.

The water kissed its weary feet

each time it drifted near,

and swallowed all its unanswered prayers,

year after year.

“What lives beyond?” the duck would ask.

“What waits behind the light?”

The lake replied with trembling tides,

then vanished into night.

For some are born with restless hearts

no harbour can persuade,

forever chasing distant suns

through shadows they have made.

And some are born to love them still,

to watch them rise above,

learning too late that being home

is not the same as love.

So the duck kept offering its soul

to skies it could not prove,

while the water slowly broke apart

from everything it could not move.

The clouds forgot the duck’s small name.

The heavens never knew.

Only the lake remembered well

the shape of what flew through.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a distinguished platform celebrating literary creativity and expression. It brings together poets and writers from diverse backgrounds, offering them an opportunity to share their unique voices and perspectives. This competition is a testament to the power of words in connecting and inspiring individuals worldwide.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Priyanka Das for her beautiful contribution, "Being Home is not the same as Love," to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her insightful exploration of home and love provides a thought-provoking experience for readers and enriches the literary tapestry of this year's event.

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.