Stray Dog - By Courtney May

Written By: Courtney May

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Courtney May, writing under the evocative pseudonym "Stray Dog," presents a poignant series of poems in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her collection, including the introspective "Stray Dog," delves into the themes of longing, absence, and identity. With a lyrical touch, Courtney explores the shadows of her experiences and emotions, inviting readers into a world where personal reflection meets universal sentiment. Her work is a compelling addition to the poetry category of the competition, showcasing her distinct voice and literary artistry.

About the Work

Courtney May's poetry is rich with emotional depth and vivid imagery, capturing the essence of longing and introspection. Her works evoke a sense of vulnerability, as she navigates the complexities of personal and familial relationships. The mood is often contemplative and somber, yet there is an underlying strength in her words. Her literary style is marked by a careful choice of language that resonates deeply with the reader, painting scenes of emotional landscapes where absence and identity intertwine.

Stray Dog

Original Submission by Courtney May

Stray Dog

26 NOVEMBER

As a kid, I used to dream

Every year on my birthday…

That, when I came home from school You would be in the living waiting.

Waiting with a present in your hand.

I dreamt that we talked.

Talked about your life.

Talked about how you have been missing out on mine.

Eventually I, stopped dreaming.

Eventually, I realised you would never show.

Eventually, my birthdays became a reminder of your absence.

Now, I dread the anniversary of my name day.

Now, my birthdays swallow me into a black hole of heartache.

Now, it smothers me in a smoke of uncertainty.

Uncertainty of who you are…

Uncertainty of who I am…

* And I ponder:

Do you ever think about me?

Do you wonder what I’m like?

Does your heart bleed for me…?

As much as mine has bled for you?

-And I keep pondering…

The void you left echoes in eternity.

-Written by: Courtney May

Petrichor

Darkness folds itself around her

Like a winter blanket

Sorrow lurks in the cold shadows

And steels away her sleep

Blunt stones crack her chest

open into the soil

While the moon watches

As she loses her thunder

Silence spoke –

And she weeps until the puddle flushes her clean.

Written by: Courtney May

Forbidden

This war inside of me

pulls,

And tears,

And rips me open Like stunt grenade.

Exposes this fortress

Carefully forged

To shelter these obscure feelings.

I try to hide within these borders, But even on these outskirts I remain aware of you.

You reel me in with unspoken words… Forbidden translations:

By your hands that mold my waist,

So I will understand the urgency of your arms, That tighten around me like knots -

In this safety net where we should not linger this long…

Then I drown.

In murky pools,

That discover me so tentatively, So deliberately.

You allow me to search for you

Beneath your blaze,

You light a pathway for me

Toward all your hidden cities…

You are reckless.

Ruthless even -

When you go and cross these lines,

Meant for our mutual annihilation.

Written by: Courtney May

Masculinity

And I bet all that you see,

Are those holes in the walls?

Those cracks,

That become voids,

That fill up with everything you don’t say.

Those unsaid words,

Sting in your ear – Sting.

You can’t cry,

So you beat your heart to sleep,

And, like so many nights before:

“pray your soul to keep”.

You understand

That they won’t.

“Aren’t you a man?”

Written by: Courtney May

YOU

You,

With those ripped jeans and emerald eyes.

You,

With that devilish shy – smile

That tastes like beer, And half – truths, And truths.

You,

With your 1 AM honesty and your:

“you smell good” murmurs.

You,

With those eager hands, but they thread carefully.

You,

Are going to be trouble… From that first handshake I knew.

Written by: Courtney May

Seven

Green embers of gold

Piercing through my soul.

Something familiar…

Something untold…

Strikes of lightning

By strokes of a touch.

Never too greedy…

Never in a rush…

Kiss like a feather

You keep holding me up,

Draw me near –

Then you leave me abrupt.

Face like an angel

In the light of dusk

Smile,

That devilish smile,

I shouldn’t wake you up.

Our souls linger,

It was never enough.

I get high off this memory,

The way you swept me up.

Written by: Courtney May

28

You were a soft pillow, you held yourself against me

When sleep never slept.

You were dry and barren,

You gave me a flint and an open field:

“Rage, you said. Rage.”

You were the cold midnight glare,

You plucked the air from my lungs –

But pulled my gaze up.

You gave me a mirror, the size of Orion’s Belt:

“Look, you said, look how mighty you are.”

Each morning,

I planted my feet in your soil like a prayer.

You then spoke to me

Through the voices of birds when they flapped their wings.

You were wind behind me, pressing me forward.

You were the wind beside me, undoing my hair.

You were the mid – morning sun,

A glint in my coffee.

You were the afternoon rain, shutting me in.

You were all the meals I cooked for my family.

You were the laughter from all of my friends.

You were the pain I tucked away,

In the dark rooms of my chest.

You curled up your warm body in my lap,

And loved me like a dog.

You were a patient, powerful storm

Ready to redeem me.

You are the Great Silence, you waited for me:

“…there – there…you are here. You have arrived.”

Written by: Courtney May

Muharrir

Don’t cry for me,

when you flip over

The torn page of our map.

Don’t cry for me,

When you ignore the rubble,

The bricks that broke my step.

Don’t cry for me,

when you sleep next to that pretty lady

wrapped in our silk.

Don’t cry for me,

or my hollow cheeks,

For many sleeps

I have been deprived of milk.

Don’t cry for me,

when you push your boy on his shiny new bike,

You take him for ice-cream

and ask him: “Son, what flavour would you like?”

Don’t cry for me,

when it rains outside

And you put on your daughter’s coat.

Me and Shaheed are hungry,

We play outside,

they said: “aid is coming with a boat”.

Don’t cry for me,

When you read about Red Riding Hood

in school.

I used to colour her picture,

but the bad men burnt all of our books.

They said we are dirty Arabs

Then laughed and gave us funny looks.

Don’t cry for me,

I have no name.

My mother carries my limbs in our flag.

I had only this little body,

But now my mother won’t understand that it is dead.

Don’t cry for me,

Will you please find my name instead?

Then carve it into an olive tree

so my soul can rest its head.

Don’t cry for me,

I am free.

And my grandmother’s mother is waiting for me.

Written by: Courtney May

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in the realms of poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. Participants from around the world share their unique perspectives and creative expressions, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary literature. This competition is dedicated to exploring the full spectrum of human experience through the written word, fostering a global community of writers and poets.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Courtney May for sharing her remarkable work, "Stray Dog," in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her evocative poetry offers a profound exploration of themes that resonate on a deeply personal level. We appreciate her contribution and look forward to witnessing her continued journey in the literary world.

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.