Rotten - By Samantha Wynne

Written By: Samantha Wynne

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Samantha Wynne, writing under the name Rotten, presents a thought-provoking poem titled "Rotten" in the Poetry category. Featured in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece delves into the complex interplay between perceived beauty and decay. The poem invites readers to reflect on the notion of belonging and the societal perception of what constitutes beauty.

About the Work

"Rotten" by Samantha Wynne examines the theme of beauty in decay. Through vivid imagery and introspective musings, the poem explores the idea of being seen as "rotten" or "out of place." The literary style is reflective, invoking the senses with its descriptions of mold, softness, and the musk of "bin bag juice." The poem leaves readers pondering the societal norms of appearance and belonging.

Rotten

Original Submission by Samantha Wynne

Rotten

I often wonder if others see any pure beauty in me,

Or if they see me as something rotten,

Turning, going bad, going soft,

As if I’m actively decomposing.

A husk, a cold cadaver of a once-loved one.

I wonder if they look at me covered in blankets of spores and think

My fuzzy edges are quite lovely.

There is so much beauty

In decay, in the spiral arrangements of mold, in the clammy darkness, the softness, the sickly sweet musk of bin bag juice that falls on your bare feet in the early morning.

Anthropologist Mary Douglas once said that dirt is only perceived as wrong when it’s not where it belongs;

It is “matter out of place” and I wonder if

I, too, am not foul and riddled with rot, but merely out of place.

Maybe I am when I sit with the dainty fairy girls, eyes like a doe’s, smoking their thin hand-rolled cigarettes under the dive bar lights,

Maybe I am when I squeeze myself into shapes, contorted, a circus animal, bones cracking, Trying to be the same as you and still different.

Maybe I belong with the pale naked writhing earth worms, in the warm wet dirt,

Dancing with a network of fungus deep in the earth’s core.

Maybe that is the place where rot is loved.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform for writers worldwide to showcase their talents. It fosters creativity and expression in various literary forms, allowing participants to share their unique voices on a global stage. The competition is a celebration of artistry and the written word.

Thank you, Samantha Wynne, for sharing your evocative poem "Rotten" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your unique perspective on beauty and decay offers a profound reflection on belonging and societal perception. We appreciate your contribution to this celebration of literary creativity.

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.