Stay Alive - By Lyric Sikkin

Written By: Lyric Sikkin

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Lyric Sikkin's poem, "Stay Alive," is a stirring entry in the Poetry category of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This annual competition, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, showcases the diverse talents of writers worldwide. In "Stay Alive," Lyric Sikkin delves into themes of survival, inner turmoil, and resilience, offering a raw and haunting portrayal of emotional struggle.

About the Work

"Stay Alive" by Lyric Sikkin is a piece that captures intense emotional conflict and the struggle to maintain one's sense of self amidst overwhelming adversity. The poem's vivid imagery and charged language convey a profound sense of pain and defiance. Through its powerful narrative, Lyric Sikkin explores the complexities of enduring personal hardship and finding strength in vulnerability.

Stay Alive

Original Submission by Lyric Sikkin

Stay Alive

By Lyric Sikkin

I wish for you to hurt.

I wish for your blood to boil, til it burns through your flesh and bones,

I wish to see you overthrown to the unfortunate,

To have your flesh ripped away, for your eyes to bulge out of your skull, for blood to spurt-

I wish for you to experience so much pain, your tears come down like rain,

For you to feel drained of all that you are;

To feel as though if you remain you will suffer for eternity,

Lying in the infirmary begging for help,

You’ll yelp in pain, having been driven insane

And I;

I will have no sympathy for you,

Because the difference between

Me;

And-

You;

Is that I was not the one to blame and

You;

You deserved all the pain,

But sadly it aint that way.

Instead I was the one driven through the mud,

The sounds of your chains being wrapped around my heart clang-

As my weak body hits the desk with a thud,

My brain singing dreadful ‘whats’ sang so sharp it hurts to hear,

Tears of red leave my head-

Til all I could see was red;

But the anger soon turned to dread,

As I realized I could not leave my bed,

I had not been fed,

And I had no words that could be said;

So I lay there begging you for mercy,

I couldn’t see-

See why all this was happening to me,

The red I once saw then turned to black,

I seem now to lack,

I’ve now lost track-

Track of how many times you have tortured me,

I am no longer free,

I can not just let it be, I can not move forward,

I can not express,

Overdress or underdress,

Make a mess,

I need to talk less,

Speak up,

Keep up;

Sleep;

I need to study,

Work,

Cook,

I need to observe,

Yet never be heard,

My opinions matter,

Wait no they dont,

Who am I speaking to-

How do I need to act-

In order to stay intact,

Cuz it doesnt matter if its a fact,

I need to keep that crap trapped,

Along with my opinions,

Be like all the other good minions.

Hide away my dreams,

My seams,

My arts,

My smarts,

My wee thoughts;

I need to hide away me;

Because as long as my opinion is different then yours,

I mustn't let it be free;

Keep it trapped inside of me,

Polluting my brain,

Using my eyes as a drain,

Causing me pain.

You Claw and you Saw,

You draw blood from my veins,

Helping to erase what remains,

My tears now forever stains.

You;

Drain- me,

Of all that I am and expect me to just roll over and say that I'm fine,

Ha,

Now you’ve really crossed the line;

Go get hit by a car;

Am I going too far?

Wishing you death and pain,

Crashing in a lane,

Dying in your sleep, in your bed, in your home,

But no because where is the pain in death;

Your on meth-

No-

I'm just sick of your shit;

Go get hit by lightning and survive,

I want you alive,

To live a long life,

Covered in painful burns,

For yous to yearn for death.

I'm a terrible person;

A monster;

Holding a gun for fun,

My words the bullets,

Flying out like herds-

Yet you're still not deterred;

So just remember,

This is not my doing;

You-

Shot me first,

Burst my mind and soul,

Filled my heart with coal,

Got me to start again with a stitch to the knees-

Sewing my seams-

Then striking me with lightning,

Victor,

More like pain inflictor,

You goddamn constrictor,

Of my life and my dreams.

Stay Alive.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event that celebrates the art of storytelling and poetic expression. Welcoming submissions from around the globe, the competition provides a platform for writers to showcase their creativity and connect with a broader audience. This annual event emphasizes the transformative power of words and the shared human experience expressed through literary art.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lyric Sikkin for sharing "Stay Alive" with us as part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your contribution enriches the tapestry of voices in this year's competition and helps illuminate the profound journey of survival and emotional resilience. Thank you for your powerful and evocative work.

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.