Ruffs and Sneakers - By Divya Moodley

Written By: Divya Moodley

Category: poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the esteemed Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Divya Moodley graces us with her evocative poem, "Ruffs and Sneakers." Under the writing name Ruffs and Sneakers, Divya delves into the transformative power of poetry across centuries, from Shakespeare's eloquent sonnets to the rhythmic beats of hip hop. Her work exemplifies the core theme of the competition: the enduring strength of creative expression in giving voice to the unheard.

About the Work

"Ruffs and Sneakers" intricately weaves the historical with the contemporary, exploring the commonalities between Shakespearean drama and modern hip hop. Through vivid imagery and compelling contrasts, Divya Moodley highlights how both forms of poetry serve as platforms for rebellion and truth. Her work is a powerful reminder of poetry's role in societal discourse, emphasizing its ability to transform pain into art and silence into sound.

Ruffs and Sneakers

Original Submission by Divya Moodley

Before there were speakers,

before there were beats,

before a microphone could turn a whisper into thunder

there was a page.

And upon that page,

a man dared to make kings tremble.

Shakespeare.

He gave words to lovers

who were forbidden to love,

to daughters whose fathers would not listen,

to fools who spoke truths

the powerful were too proud to hear.

He dressed rebellion in poetry,

hid questions inside soliloquies,

and made the stage a mirror

for a world that preferred not to look.

Then came another stage

concrete, crowded, unforgiving.

No throne.

No velvet curtains.

Just a beat.

And suddenly,

the unheard had rhythm.

Hip hop became poetry

with its shoes on.

It took the language of the streets

It turned pain into punchlines,

anger into verses,

and silence into sound.

Shakespeare wrote,

“To be, or not to be.”

Hip hop asks:

Why must I fight just to be?

Shakespeare gave voice to those

trapped beneath crowns,

beneath expectations,

beneath the weight of society.

Hip hop gives voice to those

beneath poverty,

beneath prejudice,

beneath systems that speak about them

but never to them.

Different centuries.

Different stages.

Same fire.

One used iambic pentameter.

The other uses sixteen bars.

One wore ruffs.

The other wears sneakers.

But listen closely,

They are speaking the same language.

The language of “I exist.”

The language of “Hear me.”

The language of “My story matters.”

Because poetry was never meant

only for the comfortable.

It was never meant

to decorate pages

while people suffered between the lines.

Poetry is a protest

when the world refuses to listen.

A poem can be a fist

without ever touching someone.

A verse can open a locked door.

A rhyme can cross a border

a bullet never could.

And maybe that is why

Shakespeare still lives

in the same world as hip hop.

Because centuries may change,

but people still ache.

People still love.

People still lose.

People still rage.

People still dream.

And somewhere,

someone is still being told,

“Be quiet.”

So they pick up a pen.

Or a microphone.

Or a beat.

And they speak.

Not because their voice is loud

but because their voice

deserves to be heard.

From Shakespeare's stage

to the streets of today,

poetry keeps doing

what it has always done:

giving the unheard

a voice

and giving that voice

the power to change the world.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, celebrates the art of storytelling and poetic expression. This prestigious event invites participants from around the world to share their creative voices. It is a platform that honors the diversity of thought and the universal power of words in shaping our understanding of the human experience.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Divya Moodley for her insightful contribution, "Ruffs and Sneakers," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work eloquently captures the essence of poetry's timeless role in amplifying the voices of the marginalized. Thank you, Divya, for reminding us of the profound impact of words in bridging the past and the present.

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.