Life Longing - By Cassidy Naidoo

Written By: Cassidy Naidoo

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Cassidy Naidoo brings a profound exploration of yearning and self-reflection in her poetry submission, "Life Longing." Entered in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, the piece delves into the depths of human emotion and desire. The competition celebrates writers from around the world, and Cassidy's contribution stands out for its emotional intensity and introspective nature.

About the Work

"Life Longing" is a poignant meditation on desire and self-discovery. Cassidy Naidoo employs vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey the tumultuous emotions that accompany a life filled with longing. The piece captures the tension between yearning and contentment, drawing readers into a world of introspective reflection. With a style that is both lyrical and raw, Cassidy invites readers to confront their own desires and fears.

Life Longing

Original Submission by Cassidy Naidoo

Life Longing

Who could begin to fathom that which boils within me?

Thoughts that would stain and scorch in a desperate spill of action.

Oh, the rush of a life lived in longing – sweet, unadulterated longing!

And, the fear of a future steeped in yearning.

Why then, Lord, would you set such a heart in such a frame?

A plea that will be frantically repeated when we first meet.

The flames of desperation that lap, still, at my feet,

Chaotic, flailing limbs which will never grasp what I seek.

I am plagued by an insurmountable insatiability –

locust-like, a horde of formless thoughts; my mind, a platform wrecked by instability

and there is no such peace as that made permissible by the carelessness of conviction.

Perhaps! Oh, joy! To dare is to do, and to live without conviction is our solution!

For just as thoughts float formlessly through the recesses of my mind, float I, too, through the passageways of this life.

Pray! Pray for the settling of the water within me, so that I may match that upon which I now float.

And fill this cavern inside with the beauty of all that which I fall short.

c.k.n and e.m.

________________

MAKE YOU FEEL

Do I make you feel unsure,

With how I carry my crown?

How I square my shoulders, eyes cast skywards,

Never down?

Do I make you feel uncomfortable,

With my voice you cannot drown out?

The conviction in my eyes, the strength in my spine,

And absence of doubt?

Do I make you feel cramped,

With all the existence I claim?

The grace I carry, the reverence I demand,

Because I’m a different kind of dame?

Does it make you feel less,

Since I realised I was more?

When I outgrew the box you made, unafraid of closing the door,

When I learned I could be free?

I have bloomed now

* what a gruelling ordeal

But I want to know, from you now,

How does that

Make you feel?

-c.k.n-

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that brings together writers from diverse backgrounds to share their unique voices. Celebrating creativity and literary excellence, the competition provides a platform for poets and writers to express their thoughts and emotions through the written word.

Thank you, Cassidy Naidoo, for sharing "Life Longing" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your work offers a profound and moving exploration of the human condition, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of longing and self-discovery. We appreciate your contribution and look forward to seeing more of your creative journey.

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.