By My Window - By Aimee Fowler

Written By: Aimee Fowler

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Aimee Fowler presents her evocative poem "By My Window." This poignant piece takes readers on an intimate journey through themes of pain, reflection, and healing. With her talent for capturing raw emotion, Aimee invites us to explore the depths of human experience, as seen through the lens of nature's beauty and life's challenges. Her work stands as a testament to the enduring spirit and the quest for inner peace.

About the Work

"By My Window" is a deeply moving exploration of resilience and the haunting echoes of past trauma. The poem's vivid imagery and emotional depth draw readers into a world where the beauty of a rose becomes a symbol of pain and healing. Aimee Fowler's adept use of metaphor and rich language paints a powerful picture of struggle and survival, inviting readers to ponder profound questions about identity and recovery.

By My Window

Original Submission by Aimee Fowler

By My Window

I sat by my window,

Lost to myself,

Numb. Detached.

The roses were blooming again.

It was raining.

One rose was red.

It looked just like blood,

Like my pain.

Breathless.

Dead.

But it was alive,

Petals soft, and so so red.

The ache of the memory.

The torment in my head.

I glared at the rose.

Was it always so red?

Soft like me.

Red like I was.

So much red.

Thorns on its stem.

Sharp and small.

From my window,

It looked so very tall,

Just as I was,

All those years ago

When I walked out that door.

There was a red rose.

It was still so small.

I smiled at the sight.

Confused as I fell,

Shocked that he pushed me,

Shocked that I folded

under his weight.

He held my neck.

I screamed

and wished to disintegrate.

But solid I was, and so so there.

I twisted and punched as he tore out my hair.

I was but a petal. I was but a thorn.

I was there with him but so very alone.

No matter my cries, no matter my moves,

No matter how my fingertips clawed dirty grooves,

I was there, and I shattered.

I was so so there.

And when he had left,

I was still there.

I watched as my blood traced

the grooves on the pavement.

Strands of brunette blooming with scarlet.

So much red.

And now by my window, I sit and I ponder

About nothing and everything,

And I can’t help but wonder…

If I’ll ever be soft again

Or if my softness is gone, like petals in rain.

If I’ll ever be me again, or always hide?

If I’ll ever feel free, inside or outside?

If I’ll breathe, if I’ll talk without

SCREAMING his name?

All because this rose was red.

So many years, I wished I was dead.

All because this rose is soft.

And for the first time, I looked at it

And saw

The red rose.

Not because it was beautiful

But simply because it was.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating the art of writing. It encourages poets and writers from around the world to showcase their creativity and share their unique voices. The competition highlights the transformative power of literature to connect, inspire, and provoke thought across diverse audiences.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Aimee Fowler for sharing her powerful poem "By My Window" with us. Her contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 is a valuable addition, offering insight into the human condition through her eloquent and moving words. Aimee's work continues to inspire and resonate, inviting reflection and empathy among all who read it.

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.