Petty Ghost - By Nomathamsanqa Maimela

Written By: Nomathamsanqa Maimela

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Embark on a poetic journey with Nomathamsanqa Maimela's "Petty Ghost," an evocative entry in the poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Writing under the pen name Petty Ghost, Maimela weaves a tale of emotional haunting and unresolved longing. The competition invites creative minds worldwide to share their unique voices, and Maimela captures this spirit with intensity and passion.

About the Work

"Petty Ghost" is a striking exploration of lingering emotions and the desire for presence even in absence. The poem's mood is both haunting and introspective, employing vivid imagery and repetition to amplify its message. Through a delicate balance of yearning and defiance, Maimela crafts a narrative that speaks to the universal human experience of love and regret.

Petty Ghost

Original Submission by Nomathamsanqa Maimela

Petty Ghost

I hope my spirit only finds peace in haunting you for all of your days

That my absence leaves you totally undone

Call me petty,

but I want to rip the veil between your fiction and reality

and make you hear my voice vividly, repeatedly in every room

I want my picture stitched in every one of your thoughts,

that you see me edged in every frame

I want your curiosity to betray you desperately

as you stumble to find glimpses of where I’ve been,

where I am, who I’m with,

and how dare I be happy without you?

I want you thinking of me when you shouldn’t,

And at the most inappropriate times

I want my name to slip from the tip of your tongue

when you try to find your words, even with her

I want to invade and inhabit your mind

I want you to crave the touch of my skin,

Tracing my essence even though I’m long gone

Call me petty, but

I want you to find me when you’ve truly found yourself

Just so I can leave you in the dust of your regret

I want to see you, when you realize that

I don’t want anything to do with you

And even then,

When you can’t have me,

I want you grasping at my petty ghost

Never to find peace for all of your days!

-By Nomathamsanqa Maimela

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that celebrates the art of words. The competition encourages poets and writers from around the world to express their creativity and share their unique perspectives. It serves as a platform for emerging and established voices to showcase their talents in various literary categories.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nomathamsanqa Maimela for their compelling submission, "Petty Ghost," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your words have brought depth and emotion to the competition, and we are grateful for the opportunity to feature your work. We look forward to seeing more of your creative expressions 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.