Borrowing Elements - By Mahika Chaudhary

Written By: Mahika Chaudhary

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Mahika Chaudhary presents "Borrowing Elements," a thought-provoking piece in the poetry category. This work explores the profound themes of existence and impermanence, contemplating the transient nature of life against the backdrop of the universe's architectural indifference. Mahika invites readers to reflect on the temporary nature of our consciousness and our attempts to find meaning within the vast cosmos.

About the Work

"Borrowing Elements" delves into the existential realities of life, juxtaposing human consciousness with the indifferent workings of the universe. The poem's somber tone and vivid imagery evoke a sense of both awe and insignificance, as it meditates on the inevitability of change and the fleeting nature of human endeavors. Through this literary piece, Mahika Chaudhary masterfully captures the essence of our ephemeral existence.

Borrowing Elements

Original Submission by Mahika Chaudhary

Borrowing Elements

by

Mahika Chaudhary

There is no kindness in the architecture of the universe.

It raises continents only to sand them into absence,

coaxes stars through billions of years of impossible fire

only to scatter their bones into a darkness

too immense to remember

what burned.

And we

soft collections of borrowed elements, feverishly conscious

for the length of a falling leaf

name ourselves after permanence, stack stone upon stone,

invent heaven to soften the insult

of being temporary,

though every atom in our blood

is already rehearsing departure.

Watch a glacier erase a kingdom.

Watch the sea swallow a coastline

without triumph, without cruelty,

because destruction does not require hatred

only time.

The stars are not watching.

They have no eyes to pity us.

The void does not celebrate our births

or pause for our extinctions.

If tomorrow every human voice were extinguished,

the galaxies would continue unfolding

their impossible mathematics,

never stumbling over the silence

where we insisted history had lived.

We are the smallest error of chemistry,

calling itself destiny.

A nervous arrangement of carbon

that mistook awareness for importance,

as if consciousness were anything more

than dust briefly discovering

it can grieve, it can

before returning, anonymously,

to the endless, immaculate indifference

from which it should never have expected

an answer.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event celebrating literary talent from around the world. This competition offers a platform for poets and writers to showcase their work, fostering creativity and expression across diverse themes and styles. Participants from various backgrounds contribute to a rich tapestry of contemporary literature.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mahika Chaudhary for sharing "Borrowing Elements" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her poignant reflection on the universe's indifference and our transient existence offers a profound insight into the human condition. We look forward to seeing more of her evocative work in the future.

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.