The tangled earphones in my pocket - By Kabilan

Written By: kabilan

Category: Essay type

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative essay "The tangled earphones in my pocket," Kabilan invites readers on a journey through reflective musings and personal introspection. As part of the esteemed Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this work delves into the complexities of modern life and the art of storytelling. Kabilan's candid exploration offers a glimpse into a mind grappling with chaos, creativity, and the search for meaning amidst everyday experiences.

About the Work

Kabilan's essay captures the essence of a wandering mind, filled with disjointed yet profound thoughts. The piece oscillates between humor, introspection, and social commentary, creating a tapestry of ideas that challenge conventional storytelling. Through vivid imagery and a conversational tone, Kabilan offers a unique perspective on life, inviting readers to embrace the beauty of randomness and the unexpected.

The tangled earphones in my pocket

Original Submission by kabilan

The tangled earphones in my pocket

How do I start? What do I say to begin with? I'll figure it out as I write, and you'll figure it out as you read. So recently, things have gotten too much to handle, not that they were easy in the first place, but my mind feels exhausted for what it is.

I wanted to write different stories, or excerpts of mind as you might consider after a read. I want to write enough of detailed absurdity and put the chaos within a category, design it with structural intensity and pour all that I might have on my mind onto the sheets, but I'm too lazy to actually write a structured plot kind of stories, I'm not that hustling writer. Somewhere in between, I wanted it to feel like conversations and opinions that no one ever gave a crap about, if I talked about it in the streets.

Now that I consciously think about how I am going to write this, it feels like paper left blank. After all, the ideas come pouring in when I'm dancing through traffic and tiffin shops, scouring through pathways in my mind and... the road? I don't think so, you just walk at the edges, hoping the guy behind you is decent enough to honk to let you know. So does the narrator, except the ground feels wobbly under your feet and you reach a dead end, regardless a minivan still follows you, with no one sitting inside. Oh, I forgot to say, the car is self driven.

Take a nap, take a kid, allow a nap to the kid's kin. You kidnap the kid with a napkin. Amid naps and kin, talking about kids is the last thing you would want to hear. But that's assumed on the principle that I write this piece with something of concern. Nope, this essay is concerning in a way that you feel disconcerted while being concerned about it, and that is none of my concern.

Now I'm out of things to talk about. No, you're never truly out of things to talk about. Let me take that notebook where I wrote the most random thoughts I ever had that could one day come handy. Oh yes, I do maintain that notebook. Definitely not my diary. Not that I write it anyways.

I mean, why would you write about what happens in your life, down to the most exact detail of when you woke up after 5 snoozes and a squealing mixer later. Suddenly a scrap book feels so much better to maintain, isn't it? Not when your life is in pieces, yep you definitely don't want to collect the scraps.

I have to say this beforehand, if this feels like trauma-dumping to you, I'm sorry you're wrong. I don't have that tragic cinematic backstory you fix me upon.My life is ordinary, too ordinary that I am able to appreciate the living sentient existence around me, atleast 80%, not the people, I'm talking about cats and dogs on screens. Even foxes.What's wrong with foxes? Nothing, they're just being human in an animalistic society, of course they will be disgraced and a disappointment. Not more than the beings they're getting compared to. But I don't want to take the environment conservation route; I absolutely don't want to be that EVS Teacher who gives nothing significant to listen. Not that we have a solid basis on what we're here to listen for.

Still, you live your life not always scouring meaning, right? Let's not count the late-night tarot readings that somehow gets you set in a frenzy to go AI mode on your stars at 1 am.

I love to listen to the ghost choir lo-fi tunes, it feels like a life philosophy: “Life happens. Things happen. You have the memory of a goldfish. Enjoy.”- it doesn't make sense, right? Exactly, you don't need to. (cuts off the motivational track)

Almost all the people I meet have cocaine sprinkled on their credit cards, because dogs sniff them? Not exactly, because every time I see them talk about spending, they feel more of a zombie in a trance like state. Such is the state of the “consumption economy” nowadays, tsk the future I can see, full of riches and debts. After all who will sustain this Ponzi scheme, you can fool the banks (no references intended).

Anything to make my essay interesting, even if it doesn't make sense. Take this essay like a banana stuck with tape onto the canvas and appreciate the art it is. Don't they go crazy over madmen, saying I can fix them and end up getting fixed for life? That's a favorite genre of mine I would love to talk about if time permits.

What time? Whose permit? Whose time permits what? Don't know. Don't mind. Just read to live while you live to read.

[The familiar sinking melodic trill of an 8-bit defeat, to be more specific - Super Mario Bros(1980s)]

Ends.

P.S. Did I really have to say that? Can't you find that out on your own?

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating creativity in its purest form. Participants from around the world share their original works, showcasing diverse voices and narratives. This competition continues to inspire and engage audiences, fostering a community of writers and poets dedicated to the art of storytelling.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kabilan for sharing "The tangled earphones in my pocket" with us as part of the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This essay is a testament to the power of reflection and creativity, offering readers an insightful glimpse into the mind of a thoughtful writer. We look forward to seeing more of Kabilan's unique perspectives 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.