The Beauty of Broken Light - By Zahra Lulat

Written By: zahra lulat

Category: poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the poignant composition "The Beauty of Broken Light," poet Zahra Lulat takes readers on a journey through reflection and emotional discovery. This piece, part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, delves into themes of healing and self-discovery. Through her eloquent verse, Zahra captures the essence of introspection, using imagery that evokes both the beauty and pain of life's fractures.

About the Work

Zahra Lulat's poem "The Beauty of Broken Light" beautifully captures the intricate dance between light and shadow, symbolizing life's myriad experiences. Her vivid imagery and emotive language create a tapestry of reflection, where each shard of a broken mirror becomes a metaphor for past memories and emotions. The poem's meditative tone invites readers to ponder the transformative power of embracing every fragment of one's history.

the beauty of broken light

Original Submission by zahra lulat

The beauty of broken light

Upon a wall of moonlit grey,

Where shadows knelt and would not pray,

There hung a mirror, cold and tall,

A silver witness to it all.

One winter night, with trembling hand,

I watched it slip; I watched it land,

And heard its crystal spirit cry

As fractured stars were born to die.

Its shattered face lay strewn below,

Like fallen snow in spectral glow,

And in each shard there breathed a part

Of all the chambers of my heart.

Within one piece, so small and pale,

A laughing child chased a fairy tale;

Her eyes were bright, her soul was free,

Still untouched by memory.

Within another lingered pain,

Like darkened glass stained deep by rain;

Cruel words echoed through the years,

Carved into silence, grief, and tears.

A jagged shard of deepest black

Reflected all the love I lacked;

The warmth I sought, the hands withdrawn,

The promises forgotten, gone.

One fragment held a lover's eyes,

Blue ghosts beneath September skies;

I reached to trace that vanished face,

Still lingering there with spectral grace.

My fingers brushed the silver seam,

As one might reach into a dream;

Yet sharp the hidden edge remained,

And crimson welled where I was pained.

The glass bit deep into my hand,

As though it could not understand

That years had passed, that time had flown,

Yet still it claimed me as its own.

For though the wound had healed with years,

Beneath the scar there slept its tears;

And touching what had once been mine

Awoke the ache I thought resigned.

Yet soft beneath the grief and pain,

Amid the loss, amid the rain,

The mirror whispered, dark and low,

"You are the sum of all you know."

So one by one, through years untold,

I gathered pieces from the cold;

Not to erase what came before,

But learn what all the fragments bore.

Each crack became a silver stream,

Like starlight woven through a dream;

And every wound the glass displayed

Became a part of what I made.

Then through the quiet came a light,

Not fierce as flame, nor brief as night;

But warm and constant as the dawn,

That lingers softly after storm.

And with that love, both kind and true,

The scattered pieces slowly grew

Less strange to one another's face,

As though they longed to meet in place.

Until at last the mirror stood,

Not as it had, nor as it should,

But stronger where the breaks had been,

With living light between each seam.

Now when I gaze, I plainly see

Each life reflected back at me;

The child, the scars, the hopes once torn,

And every self that love has worn.

The mirror greets the night once more,

Still marked by every crack it bore;

Yet beautiful, for I have learned

The brightest light is often earned.

And sometimes where the pieces sever,

Love finds them,

And binds them back together.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating literary excellence worldwide. This competition invites writers and poets to share their unique voices and creative narratives. Participants from diverse backgrounds showcase their talent, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of global storytelling and poetic expression.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Zahra Lulat for sharing "The Beauty of Broken Light" with us. Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the literary landscape with depth and insight. Zahra's evocative work encourages us all to recognize the beauty within our own fragmented reflections.

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.