Between Two Worlds - By Danielle Mia Newmarch

Written By: Danielle Mia Newmarch

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her evocative poem "Between Two Worlds," Danielle Mia Newmarch offers a captivating exploration into the interplay between imagination and reality. As part of the esteemed Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece invites readers into a nuanced contemplation of existing between parallel worlds. Through Newmarch's words, we witness a profound reflection on the desire to belong to both the tangible reality and the richly textured realms within one's mind.

About the Work

Newmarch's "Between Two Worlds" masterfully captures the tension of living between the tangible and the imaginative. The poem weaves a delicate tapestry of longing and belonging, characterized by vivid imagery and a profound sense of introspection. Through a lyrical narrative, readers are drawn into the emotional complexity of seeking connection in both the external world and the intimate universe of one's own creation.

Between Two Worlds

Original Submission by Danielle Mia Newmarch

Between Two Worlds

Sometimes I slip into my mind.

Not enough to disappear,

not enough for anyone to notice,

just enough for the concrete of reality to crack.

The worlds I built –

or maybe the worlds that built themselves inside me –

haemorrhage over this one.

A voice here. A memory there.

A ricochet of a character’s presence that breathed my air.

It’s always there:

that collapsing background noise

buzzing beneath this shared existence.

And another universe is gulping behind a door.

And I have been here before.

And damn, I want it.

I want the tug of it, the ease of it,

the aching familiarity of stepping somewhere

that understands me without needing rationalisation.

But I want this world too.

I want sunlight that burns me.

Conversations that pluck vibrations

into our oxygen.

Moments that don’t dissolve

the second I reach for them.

I want to be present –

tangibly, entirely,

with both feet planted in the now.

But there’s pressure in that. A constant pressure.

Like I am forcing myself to remain anchored

while half my soul keeps turning toward somewhere else.

Toward somewhere I somehow know, though I cannot say how.

And when I drift too far,

panic curls inside my ribs.

A nausea. A guilt.

As though leaving this reality for even a second

means I am failing at living.

So I stay.

Or I try to.

But then comes that small hitch in my breathing –

so slight nobody notices.

I still breathe. I still laugh. I still answer when spoken to.

But it is not the same.

Because part of me is listening

for the background noise again.

For the stories.

For the people who you have never met

yet somehow hold pieces of me

more crafted-fully created than the real world does.

More gently. More truly. As though divinely placed there.

And I hate it.

Except I don’t.

Because I want it back

even while begging myself to let it go.

And maybe that’s the strangest part:

not that I disappear into imaginary worlds,

but that they feel like home while

I am still trying to learn how to live here.

Like a door left ajar that is half beckoning me.

And everyone thinks I’m strange.

But they do not hear the cosmoses

roaring softly inside my head.

They do not know the weight of that, nor the wonder.

They have never stood between two worlds

and loved both, and suffered.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, celebrates the richness of literary expression across genres. This distinguished platform serves as a beacon for writers worldwide, offering a stage for voices to resonate with creativity and authenticity. Participants engage in a vibrant exchange of ideas, fostering a global community of literary enthusiasts.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Danielle Mia Newmarch for sharing her poignant piece, "Between Two Worlds," in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her insightful exploration of dual existence enriches our understanding of the human experience. We look forward to witnessing her continued journey in the world of poetry and creative writing.

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.