Hospital Waiting Rooms - By Kanchana Perera

Written By: Kanchana Perera

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the realm of poetry, Kanchana Perera's "Hospital Waiting Rooms" emerges as a poignant exploration of time, anticipation, and self-reflection. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this poem delves into the often overlooked emotional landscapes of hospital waiting rooms. The piece captures the profound yet quiet moments that linger in the intersection of hope, fear, and patience.

About the Work

Kanchana Perera's work resonates with a reflective and somber tone, employing vivid imagery and introspective musings to evoke the sterile yet emotionally charged atmosphere of hospital waiting rooms. The poem intricately weaves themes of uncertainty and resilience, drawing parallels between personal fragility and the art of kintsugi, where brokenness becomes a canvas for beauty and strength.

Hospital Waiting Rooms

Original Submission by Kanchana Perera

Hospital Waiting Rooms

She gasps.

Not from pain - at least not the kind doctors can see but from a quiet numbing realization that she has spent what must be years of her life in hospital waiting rooms.

She knows their smells by heart now: the pale antiseptic that clings to plastic chairs, the bitter coffee from vending machines, the faint metallic tang of worry that seems to seep from the walls.

She has waited here before, many times for others.

Today, she waits for herself.

She’s not sure what she’s waiting for.

A diagnosis. A decline. A door to open.

She only knows the familiar feeling in her chest: the quiet quake of coming undone.

She doesn’t cry here anymore.

That was a younger version of herself - before grief learned to wear quieter clothes.

Now she just sits, hands folded, back straight, as if her body still believes posture could protect her from bad news.

Time moves differently in places like this.

A slow, deliberate march - measured like the beeping of machines in rooms just beyond reach.

Mechanical. Almost military in its precision.

Minutes stretching into hours, then snapping shut without warning.

There are moments, of course, when life still surprises her.

A birth. A graduation. A wedding. A celebration.

Those days sparkle briefly, like broken glass catching the sun.

But the in-between is long, and full of shadows.

And always – always - there is the waiting.

It is in this familiar pause that she begins to reflect not only on

her own losses, but on the person she is here for today.

Herself.

Life, she thinks, is a fragile crystal vase.

Held together by the thinnest thread of chance.

One wrong movement, and it all falls

Shards scattering across the floor.

At first glance, they seem useless.

Too damaged to matter.

But then comes the remembering.

The ritual of piecing things back together.

She once read about Kintsugi - the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold.

How the cracks are not hidden, but gilded.

How the object becomes more beautiful for having been broken.

And maybe that’s what this is.

Maybe that’s what today’s verdict will be all about.

Not a story of perfection, but of fracture and restoration.

Not a beginning at birth, but at the break.

She folds her hands tighter in her lap. Breathes in.

The doors will open soon.

And when they do, she will stand.

She will walk in. She will remember. She will tell.

Because this narrative begins uncertain, unsure, unresolved.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices in literature, inviting participants from around the world to share their creative expressions. This esteemed event fosters a global community of writers and poets, offering a platform for unique narratives and innovative storytelling.

We extend our gratitude to Kanchana Perera for sharing "Hospital Waiting Rooms" in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her poetic exploration of vulnerability and resilience offers a profound reflection on life's unpredictable journey. We look forward to witnessing more of her insightful literary contributions.

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.