The Love Stain - By Nasreen Thasleem

Written By: Nasreen Thasleem

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Nasreen Thasleem brings a powerful voice to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 with her poignant poem, "The Love Stain." In the category of poetry, Nasreen tackles the complex and often painful themes of family, fear, and the search for personal identity. Her work resonates with emotional depth and authenticity, offering a raw glimpse into the scars that shape one's life.

About the Work

"The Love Stain" delves into the emotional turmoil of a child's experience with familial relationships marred by fear and violence. The poem's vivid imagery and haunting language convey a deep sense of resilience and the struggle to reclaim one's own voice amidst the shadows of the past. It speaks to the universal themes of love, survival, and the courage to define oneself beyond inherited wounds.

The Love Stain

Original Submission by Nasreen Thasleem

The Love Stain

They told me,

“He is your father.”

As if blood could wash away

the things that blood had witnessed.

As if a title could turn a wound

into something I should forgive.

He drank, drank, and drank,

then the storm would find my skin.

The walls learned silence,

while the bruises spoke within.

Next day, He spoke of love

with a tongue that made me afraid of it.

And they told me,

“He is your father”.

But I was just a child.

I did not understand

Why love needed to frighten me.

Why the arms that should have held me

could become the arms I needed to escape.

Three times, his blows stole my breath,

Three times, I stood at the gates of death.

The scars became my secret, I carried them quietly

beneath clothes, beneath smiles, beneath the daughter

everyone thought they knew.

He calls it love.

They call it family.

I call it fear.

And now I’m twenty-eight,

Still bearing wounds no years could abate.

You left your stain upon my past,

But I refuse to wear it as my last.

For I was more than the wounds you made,

more than the silence in which I stayed.

You marked my childhood, left your trace,

but you do not own my name, my voice, my space.

Nasreen Thasleem

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, is a prestigious platform for writers and poets to showcase their work on an international stage. The competition invites participants to explore diverse themes and share their unique stories through the art of writing. With entries from all over the world, it celebrates creativity, expression, and the transformative power of words.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nasreen Thasleem for sharing "The Love Stain" with us in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her contribution is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the darkest corners of human experience. We look forward to seeing more of her poignant and inspiring work in the future.

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.