Fading Lights of the Day - By Anirban Sen

Written By: Anirban Sen

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative poem "Fading Lights of the Day," Anirban Sen invites readers to delve into the depths of existential musings. Submitted to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece stands as a testament to the power of introspective poetry. Anirban's work explores themes of desire, illusion, and the search for meaning, challenging readers to confront the complexities of their own thoughts and emotions.

About the Work

"Fading Lights of the Day" is a profound exploration of the inner turmoil and fleeting nature of desires. The poem's introspective tone is laced with questions that unravel the intricacies of existence. Anirban's use of vivid imagery and philosophical inquiry creates a tapestry of thoughts that resonate deeply, capturing the essence of searching for clarity amidst ambiguity and memory.

Fading Lights of the Day

Original Submission by Anirban Sen

Fading Lights of the Day

Why? Should it be like this, carnal desires erupt and burn me like the engulfing fire?

Forest after forest, land after land ravaged, putting me into illusion, and illusions to all those illusions.

Why? Is it the end, or the end to the very meaning of end itself?

Why? I crave, but the craving itself craves for something mysteriously uncanny.

Is it what the mind feels, or is it the repressed self of mine which compels me to believe so?

Why? All fragmentation can be fragmented just to refigure what the totality once felt like.

I dive deep down into my soul or is it a soul in disguise? To look for an answer which

Might be so absurd, that absurdity itself will look for words to justify or defend it.

Once, life could be lived with profoundness, and leisure felt like leisure itself.

Why? Every chapter begins not just with a bang, but with a whisper,

Whispers, monologues, soliloquies, but never with a chorus.

Multiplicity, intrapersonal encounters-all find their place, ambiguous.

Complexity and turmoil rise, making it more complex than the term itself means.

Lurking in the very deep of the conscious, I feel like I got the answer, but it is just a shadow.

A shadow which might never leave you; but light makes it jealous. But how?

Light? Yes, light fades, shadow accompanies. But what is the use of the shadow if

It always counters the light which compliments it? Shadow never lives, and light-

It is what needs to be done. The sun needs to confront the moon once, or the moon needs to

Confess that the sun makes it the moon, so the shadow should compliment rather.

Why? Those words are so broken. Why? Amid ideas, I feel I am lost and

Lacking ideas. Why? I need to borrow, or knowingly or unknowingly

Make myself a thief who always steals others' ideas when there are so many of them,

But not even one is complete in itself; rather, it finds justification or attracts itself to the

Surface-level analysis of it in the tongue of another.

This poem will fail like the light which will also extinguish, but before this, it will

Burn and light to the fullest, then open space for other lights to acquire or occupy the

Stage which was once its own, but not forever. And no life lives other than the life itself,

Which lives in the memory, and in the illusions of memory, which

Becomes memory in the minds of those who find solace in memories.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the art of written expression, providing a platform for poets and writers to showcase their creativity. This prestigious event encourages submissions that push the boundaries of language and thought, fostering a community of diverse voices and ideas.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Anirban Sen for sharing "Fading Lights of the Day" with us as part of the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your exploration of existential themes enriches our understanding of the human experience. We look forward to seeing more of your thought-provoking 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.