My Imaginary World - By Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara

Written By: Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

We are delighted to feature "My Imaginary World" by Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This insightful piece transports readers to a realm of nostalgia and fantasy, exploring the intersections of pop culture, video games, and animated classics. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt reflections, Sayuru invites us into a personal narrative that speaks to the enduring impact of cherished fictional friendships.

About the Work

"My Imaginary World" is a nostalgic exploration of the connections formed with beloved characters from video games, comics, and animations. Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara crafts a poetic tapestry, weaving together memories that transcend mere fandom. The poem's tone is reflective, evoking both the joy and the bittersweet passage of time. It captures the essence of an era where fantasy and reality blend, creating a lasting impression on the reader's imagination.

My Imaginary World

Original Submission by Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara

My imaginary world

By Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara

In this imaginary world

This is a scene of utopia

Where everything is filled with fantasy and blended reality

With no connection to real-life events,

People, situations or circumstances

The detailed version is like this

In an unusual circumstance

Despite being a video game relatively suitable for older teenagers

I Met Lara Croft by accident

Going on adventures with her in her own world

Controlling her like a puppet in any direction

Surprisingly, I was mistakenly called

Happy Tail-eversary

An actual reference in Winnie the Pooh

Not much friendships with comic book or manga characters

Especially Marvel, DC Comics, Archie and Harvey Characters

For though I have read them

My friendship wasn’t much deep

But the association got even much deeper

When I was introduced to classic characters

From the golden eras of the 1940s to the 1990s

Such as many of the Disney, Warner Brothers and Looney Tunes characters

That was once watched by older generations

To later franchises such as Doctor Who, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter

Which My friendship was already familiar

Then came in Modern animation

Such as that from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network characters

And a little while later

Got introduced to many beloved video game characters

Such as Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Kirby and Sonic the Hedgehog

As well as characters from the anime universe

That from One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Digimon and Pokemon

The friendship was brief though

But the memories and dreams will stay

Treating every thing I say to them as pure fiction

For they are characters, not real people

This is what life in the pre-COVID era was like

A life like no other

Reading comics, playing video games, watching cartoons

Introduced me to a fantasy world

The sweetest memories I had

Will never be forgotten at all

Memories will last a lifetime

For they may be forgotten, but always remembered for a long time

Though I no longer am with them

I cannot forget what they did to me

And how I spent time with them

Memories will last for a lifetime

And will last forever, long after they have gone from my mind

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event celebrating the diverse voices and creative expressions of writers from around the globe. This competition provides a platform for poets and writers to share their unique perspectives and stories, fostering a community of literary excellence and innovation.

We extend our warmest thanks to Sayuru Chapa Abeysundara for sharing "My Imaginary World" with us as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your work provides a poignant reminder of the timeless impact of our imaginary friends and the worlds we create with them. We look forward to seeing more of your creative endeavors 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.