Shovel - By Meriem Ghandir

Written By: Meriem ghandir.

Category: Poetry.

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the haunting poem "Shovel," Meriem Ghandir delves into themes of cold, solitude, and the search for warmth amid harsh conditions. Submitted to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this evocative piece paints a vivid picture of emotional and physical struggle. Ghandir, writing under the name Shovel, crafts a narrative that invites readers to explore the depths of human endurance and resilience.

About the Work

"Shovel" captures the chilling essence of February's cold and the emotional weight it brings. Through vivid imagery and lyrical prose, Ghandir explores themes of isolation, familial neglect, and the longing for warmth and recognition. The poem's mood is somber yet underlined with a sense of perseverance, as it follows a young boy's journey through a wintry landscape both literal and metaphorical. The use of stark imagery and poignant symbolism enriches the narrative, offering a profound reflection on survival and hope.

Shovel.

Original Submission by Meriem ghandir.

Shovel

February, a merciless cold,

It takes and unthreads

A quiet soul.

Nonetheless, snow sought blood,

Footsteps to a graveyard.

His fate sealed in mud.

“Will we be okay?”

His thoughts muddled words,

A message unheard

Beneath the dawn’s pale light,

A stream of white veiled his sight.

He begged for its return;

Warmth had its hours,

and his had to be earned.

When it fell below punishing degrees,

His mind stopped looping,

Its tracks breaking free.

Although the sun would barely shine,

Quinn led his thoughts away from his mind.

“Shovel son—don’t look ahead,”

Sometimes he’d dream of stories from the dead.

In Mrs. Richard’s house of sighs,

Coins slept in jars, too cold to rise.

The air grew heavy—but where was the boy?

Lingering between a broken lantern

And the quiet grave of his toys.

He was one of three kids.

His body shrank in the cold

As his arm gave out.

Shoveling and scooping the white

Of dreadful doubt.

By noon, he was still at it—helping daddy out.

In his oversized jacket,

Given by his eldest brother,

Quinn was often disregarded

And ignored by his mother.

So he’d reach for the windowpanes

And imagine a ghostlike cover.

School bells would ring,

His throat clenched with thirst.

The ten-year-old boy ran to stand in line first.

Desperate for a bus pass, even if it’s cursed,

The cold bit harder—as the line order reversed.

He’d limp home, with a lantern in his hand,

Waiting for his mother to look at him

—to give him a glance.

So he’d tap on her shoulder, trying to put on a smile

That stretched into oblivion for miles and miles.

Darkness pollutes and shadows his growing pain;

The stories he was told no longer felt the same.

Mrs. Richard doesn’t try to look his way.

She glides her hand over her shoulder

And moves Quinn’s hand away—

Just so she can run to her eldest

And wonder if he’s ever okay.

Quinn lays his one jacket on the blanket of snow.

He sits and shovels every row—

Waiting till the sun comes

To melt his frozen parts.

But all that remains are his organs in snow carts.

February, a merciless cold,

It takes and unthreads his quiet soul.

“Wash your hands clean and step away from his blood”—

They wrapped him in wool,

And one waved goodbye.

“Who’ll buck the weeds this May or July?”

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar stands as a celebration of literary expression, inviting writers from around the world to showcase their talent and creativity. This prestigious event provides a platform for poets and writers to share their unique voices and stories with a global audience, fostering a community of artistic engagement and cultural exchange.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Meriem Ghandir for sharing "Shovel" with the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her poignant exploration of life's harsh realities and the enduring human spirit is a testament to the power of poetry. We are grateful for her contribution and look forward to the continued impact of her compelling narrative on readers everywhere.

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.