Survival and Sacrifice is the Kind of Love We Own - By Hiral Mankad

Written By: Hiral Mankad

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative poem "Survival and Sacrifice is the Kind of Love We Own," Hiral Mankad brings forth a profound exploration of love interwoven with themes of endurance and selflessness. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this poignant piece falls under the poetry category, offering readers a reflective journey into the sacrifices often made in the name of love. With a deeply personal narrative, Mankad's work resonates with universal themes of familial bonds and the silent strength found within.

About the Work

Hiral Mankad's poem paints a vivid picture of a mother's love, marked by survival and sacrifice. The piece is rich with imagery and emotion, portraying a life where love is often synonymous with self-denial. Through eloquent language, Mankad captures the essence of a mother's quiet endurance and the legacy of strength passed down to the next generation. The poem's reflective tone invites readers to ponder the cost of love and the courage it takes to choose oneself in a world that demands everything.

Survival and Sacrifice is the kind of love we own

Original Submission by Hiral Mankad

SURVIVAL AND SACRIFICE IS THE KIND OF LOVE WE OWN.

In another life,

My Mumma is bright,

She walks in the sun and lives in the light.

She doesn’t stay hidden or locked,

Not filtered through curtains of duty

Not folded in corners where gratitude’s thin,

In a house that never learned the value within.

In another life,

She does not memorize

The language of lack,

Does not stitch silence into her smile,

Nor does she swallow storms

Just to keep the sky calm.

She measures no love

by the cost of her soul,

Or how much she breaks just to keep a heart whole.

She no longer vanishes piece after piece,

Until all that remains is a sad release.

She stands in the light ,

Undeniable,

Bold,

And clear,

With no reason to disappear.

In that life,

She boards trains that don’t lead back home,

Let’s cities pronounce her name.

In foreign tongues, the syllables dance

Giving her soul a refreshing chance.

She collects laughter like postcards,

Creased,

Imperfect,

Real.

She learns the shape of her hunger deep,

Feeds it first, what she must keep.

She is a woman, fierce to be,

Whole, Untranslated and free.

And I-

I am not there.

No small hands pulling at the threads of her days

Stealing hours and moments away.

No midnight cries stitched into her sleep,

No mirror held up to her,

Asking her to give,

And give.

In another life,

She never teaches me

How to make myself shrink and hide

To make the world feel vast and wide

She never shows how to set the table with empty hands

And call it enough.

She never teaches me how a smile is worn,

With a mouth full of unspoken things, quiet and torn,

Her story never to be told,

How survival and sacrifice

is the kind of love we own.

Because she never learned it either.

But here,

In this life that binds us both,

She is not sunlight oath,

She is a candle,

Burning at both ends,

Flickering through every draft

Just to keep them warm at last.

She teaches me how to endure.

How to hold the roof with bare hands.

How to pour out love though the vessel is thin,

Ignoring the fractures that deepen within.

Like water that flows from a glass full of cracks,

She gives everything she has,

And never looks back.

Even when thirst is the only thing known,

And the very last drop,

Is no longer her own,

She offers the spirit,

The heart, the soul,

To mend all the others and keep them whole.

She teaches me that love can wear,

The face of quiet, thinning air,

That it can look like exhausted eyes,

And truths concealed in practiced lies

That love is a whisper of “I’m fine”

“everything’s alright”

Saying long after fading out of sight.

one too many times.

And I learn it,

God, I learned it so well.

I learn to take the final place,

With tears on my face

To call absence devotion.

Sound of my own wants I ignore

Until they feel like strangers at the door.

And sometimes,

When the house is finally quiet

And the night forgets to watch me,

I wonder,

If I am her legacy,

Or her echo.

If in another world,

Where she chooses herself,

Would I be angry if she chose her way?

Or be glad that she finally found where to stay?

Would I hate her for not choosing me?

Or would I be thanking her for choosing herself?

Choosing to live. Breathe. Be alive.

Because here,

We are two unfinished prayers in a world that is dim,

Spoken in the same language,

She who never learnt to be full,

And me,

Who learned emptiness by heart.

But even in the world where I do not have a part

I love her,

With every single beat of my heart.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices in the literary arts, inviting participants worldwide to share their unique narratives. The competition provides a platform for poets and writers to express their creativity and connect with a global audience. Through this event, Hashtag Kalakar fosters a community of literary enthusiasts who appreciate the power of words to inspire, heal, and bring about change.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hiral Mankad for sharing "Survival and Sacrifice is the Kind of Love We Own" with the world. This powerful contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 offers an intimate glimpse into the complexities of love and the resilience it demands. We are grateful for the opportunity to feature such a moving piece that speaks to the enduring spirit of familial bonds.

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.