Orange is Not My Colour - By Tanya Warnakulasuriya

Written By: Tanya Warnakulasuriya (writing as T.P. Tovenaar performing as The Twitchy Witch)

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Tanya Warnakulasuriya, writing as T.P. Tovenaar and performing as The Twitchy Witch, brings to light the harrowing reality of domestic abuse in her powerful poem "Orange is Not My Colour". Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this work explores the personal and emotional struggle of surviving violence. Through vivid imagery and raw emotion, the poem sheds light on a topic that is often hidden away but crucial to address.

About the Work

"Orange is Not My Colour" is a deeply emotive piece that captures the painful experiences of a victim of domestic violence. Through stark imagery and a somber tone, Tanya Warnakulasuriya deftly conveys the physical and emotional scars left by abuse. The poem's haunting rhythm and evocative language highlight the disconnect between societal campaigns and personal suffering, challenging readers to confront the harsh realities behind the statistics.

Orange is Not My Colour

Original Submission by Tanya Warnakulasuriya (writing as T.P. Tovenaar performing as The Twitchy Witch)

Orange Is Not My Colour

By the Twitchy Witch

Written by T.P.Tovenaar

Orange is not my colour,

Mines more black and blue

Which later, after a few days

Turns a purple hue

Eventually succumbing

To a jaundiced yellow

The colour of sickly sweet

The colour of his repentance

After the rhythm that he beat

And beat and beat

On my back and my stomach and my legs.

Pinches and Flicks

Turn to punches and kicks

On the body

But never the head

Or face does he leave a trace

Of the lessons

I needed to learn

For the people to see

My stupidity

Or the cigarette burns I deserved,

No

Those sit behind clothes,

Never on show

For others to question or comment

Baggy and loose

So the blood won’t soak through

They hide in their tracksuit tent.

You say Orange is bright

It brings hope that there might

Be better days for me in the future,

But the money you spend

On your T-shirts and websites

And billboards in orange lights

Just reminds me

Of cat gut sutures

That stitch me up

When he’s had enough

Venting his spleen

By rupturing mine

With his torture

No, Orange is not my colour

The sun doesn’t rise on my dawn

Like for many cultures in the middle east

Orange brings no release

But instead is a colour

Of loss and mourn

The evil pandemic proved

The ineffectiveness of campaigns

By spawning more abusers, more violence

More anger, More hatred, more pain

So that now when we see

A woman or three -

One will have been abused.

No. Orange is not my colour

It is a colour that makes victims

Feel used

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating the power of words in various forms. It brings together writers and poets from around the world to share their unique voices and perspectives. This competition aims to foster creativity and inspire meaningful conversations through the art of poetry and creative writing.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Tanya Warnakulasuriya for her brave and poignant contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. "Orange is Not My Colour" is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring others through your evocative words.

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.