The Silent Youth Wept - By Halah

Written By: Halah

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative poem "The Silent Youth Wept," Halah invites readers to witness the profound internal battles faced by a silent youth. As a participant in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Halah offers a poignant exploration of hidden struggles and the quiet resilience against an unrelenting storm. This work stands as a testament to the power of poetry to articulate the often unspoken, giving voice to those whose stories are often overlooked.

About the Work

"The Silent Youth Wept" is a stirring piece that delves deep into themes of invisible struggles and silent endurance. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly reflective tone, Halah captures the essence of a battle that rages silently within. The poem's mood is both somber and resolute, painting a picture of perseverance against unseen adversities. It masterfully conveys the emotional weight of feeling isolated in one's suffering, urging readers to consider the hidden depths of those around them.

The Silent Youth Wept

Original Submission by Halah

THE SILENT YOUTH WEPT

The world knows not the neurological storm,

A musculoskeletal cage for this fragile form.

The surface, the poise, the smile are judged,

Unaware of the fire in this fractured space.

Rampaging, the monster disguised as a disease-

The earth-curdling despair that never spared

Any space for fun, and blessed with burns.

Destiny embedded such a page,

Wiping out my trace, to vanish off this place.

Life shoves to those it holds as prizes

While others watch as the curtain rises.

For I was birthed during the shadows of such blight;

The struggle remains the only sight.

It devours the light where the pain is most certain;

I find the silence the dark has traced-

A silence where words have no grace.

Life shoves the body toward demise.

Perhaps I was chosen among the many,

With life welcoming the crisis in pleasure

As neglected was me, “the defective treasure”

The one life chose to prefer,

Given the key to the doors of chance,

While I watch the light in a broken dance.

Life condemned an innocent of nine,

Condemned for an undone crime.

The child who never got to be wild,

Discarded on the side, ignored in sight.

Instead, life invited the blight,

A shadow cast in the absence of light.

Everything seemed perfect-a portion of imperfect.

Fate knocked down the beautiful gate.

An alarm wished for existence,

To know the precious sea.

Could it no longer be?

Was I merely a glitch in the grand decree?

I paced myself, deciding to be strong,

Knowing the time would not last long.

I loaded my body with medications, full force;

My bed shared the entire remorse.

The pillow knew every course,

Soaking up tears from a silent source.

Pain broke my body into fragments.

A forced smile hid every torment.

I feared it would break my loved ones

For my own, I was disowned?

An undone crime I atoned?

My father claimed, for them I was a shame?

For the disease, for the monster, I was to be blamed?

They stand in the warmth of a healing plea,

While I drift on the tide of a drowning sea.

Can’t he truly see?

My father can’t be that mean-

Until I was brutally demeaned.

Life hurt. Living it hurt, giving it away hurt.

Holding myself hurt, smiling for others hurt.

Instead, a curse claimed the years I lost,

Leaving me broken at only nine.

I feel the desperation to be whole again, not torn.

Did I commit some severe, unremembered crime?

Or am I an evil witch, destined to be cast aside?

For what hidden sin was my youth washed away,

Leaving no shine, only a sentence to pay?

I wonder how long I must wait for my prime,

Hoping the days will outrun this rough tide.

I foolishly hoped the monster might tire,

To forgive, to free me, to quench its own fire-

But I was bluffed by a merciless lie.

Laying on the bed in vain.

A disease so vicious devours the graceful,

Creeping past my defenses, certain and hateful.

Bursting with pain, my ribcage a maze,

A labyrinth built in a dying haze.

Perhaps the monster was in rage

Because in my chest it was caged.

The rhythm of it remains, still feeling raw,

Just as it did from the first awakening I saw.

It is as if a hand pulled at my flesh until it bled;

Similar as the breath stolen from my lungs,

Similar as the song left unsung,

Similar is the life, forever wrung-

A weeping, hidden wound that nobody saw.

But beneath the skin, I felt the monster claw.

A girl of nine, I once was all scared,

But my father didn’t believe my say:

That the monster inside awakes to fray.

With every month, I saw my light decline,

Watching the years slip away down the line.

I am still not accustomed to being the prey,

Yet the monster decides, in this body, to stay-

One day, perhaps,

Will my father believe my say?

Or he’d rather ignorantly let me decay,

Leave me alone for the monster to prey?

With a smile wide, as the waves marked a turn of tide,

A father let his daughter’s cry be devoured, to die.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 hosted by Hashtag Kalakar is a celebration of literary talent, providing a platform for writers and poets to share their unique voices and stories. This prestigious event invites participants from around the globe to contribute their creative works, fostering a community of artists who push the boundaries of expression and storytelling.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Halah for sharing "The Silent Youth Wept" with us in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your powerful words and evocative imagery offer a profound glimpse into the silent struggles faced by many. Thank you for your contribution and for enriching the literary landscape with your poignant voice.

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.