Left Behind- Together - By Dean Kleinbooi

Written By: Dean Kleinbooi

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the 2026 Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition, Dean Kleinbooi presents a poignant exploration of love and loss in his poem "Left Behind- Together." This entry represents the Poetry category, offering readers a deeply emotive journey through the themes of unfulfilled promises and the longing for renewal. Kleinbooi's work captures the intricate dance between heartache and hope, inviting the audience to reflect on the delicate balance of human emotions.

About the Work

"Left Behind- Together" embodies the essence of reflective poetry, weaving a delicate tapestry of emotion through vivid imagery and powerful language. Kleinbooi masterfully uses metaphor and symbolism, crafting a narrative of love's remnants and the longing for transformation. The poem's mood oscillates between sorrow and the hope for rebirth, exploring the fragility of human connection and the enduring desire for renewal amidst the ruins of past promises.

Left Behind- Together.

Original Submission by Dean Kleinbooi

Left Behind- Together.

by Dean Kleinbooi

Crippled by love’s unsoftened edge

My heart

Mutilated by truth’s bare candour.

The silver eyes that gleamed at life

Reflect judgement back at me—

Our Promise undone

Our future days—

a phantom of what could never be

Stripped of glimmering ideals,

I writhe in wrought regret

Shards of us, slit my heels

Bringing me to my knees

Left cut and bleeding

By once dazzling diamonds

⸻

Lord Shaper,

Reform what’s left

The pieces of love and I

Make us anew:

Strips of weathered seasons

Our dry sands

Fused into molten glass

Embedding fragments of us in amber

Our tale rewritten in your fire—

Beautiful,

Endless,

Fragile.

⸻

Unable to gift grief form,

I ponder promises made,

And purposely mistake

Sundown for dawn.

Silver eyes dull to grey,

Lashes soaked in love’s remembrance

Daydreaming of sleep,

I sift the hours like sand for traces of you—

diamond dust of hopes ground down,

Weeping in memory

Of home and absolution

———

Gold and ivory

Seep deep into memory

Once splendid

Now bruised by joy’s abuse

As snow covets endless fields of rye

Abandoning god’s gift to humanity

Forlorn and Sorrow

Is what remains

Left behind—

Together.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that brings together writers and poets from around the world. This competition celebrates the art of storytelling and poetic expression, offering a platform for participants to share their creative works with a global audience. It highlights the diverse voices and imaginative spirits that contribute to the literary landscape.

Thank you, Dean Kleinbooi, for your heartfelt submission "Left Behind- Together" to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your poetic exploration of love and memory has enriched our understanding of these universal themes. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your 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.