This isn't the place stories bend - By Hiral Mankad

Written By: Hiral Mankad

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the realm of poetic expression, Hiral Mankad offers a profound exploration of ambition and resilience with "This isn't the place stories bend." As a participant in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Mankad delves into the intricate dance between aspiration and doubt. Through her evocative verses, she presents a narrative that resonates with anyone who has grappled with the fear of not realizing their full potential.

About the Work

Hiral Mankad's poem unfolds with vivid imagery and a contemplative tone as it explores the internal conflict between ambition and fear. The poem's rhythm captures the urgency and intensity of pursuing dreams, while its reflective moments offer insight into the emotional weight of self-doubt. Through powerful metaphors and a poignant narrative, Mankad conveys a message of perseverance and the enduring spirit of ambition.

This isn't the place stories bend

Original Submission by Hiral Mankad

THIS ISN’T THE PLACE STORIES BEND

She once ran faster than the ticking clock,

Eyes full of fire,

Will made out of rock.

While others slept, she bargained with dawn,

Believing her hunger

Would keep pulling her on.

Ambition sat sharp in the curve of her chest.

A restless drum.

Never letting her rest.

She dreamed in milestones, breathed in

“someday”

So certain, So sure

Of the road she would slay.

She was ahead- oh, everyone knew.

Her name in their whispers,

In envy too.

“Watch her” they said, “She’s going too far”,

And she believed them ,

Star by star.

But fear is a quiet, patient thief.

It doesn’t shout,

It offers relief.

It says, “what if you are not enough?”

“What if the fall is far too rough?”

So, she slowed her steps

Then learned to pause.

Doubting her gift,

Questioning her cause.

Every choice weighed a thousand tons.

Every start felt like too many runs.

She waited for courage to feel less loud,

For certainty’s blessing,

Perfectly proud.

But courage doesn’t come wrapped in ease

It comes when you move with shaking knees.

Time did not wait while she stood still.

It passes like water,

Cold and cruel.

The faces she had once

Guided along

Now surge ahead,

Confident and strong.

Their lives filled up with

Promotions and praise,

While her stayed stuck

In almost- days.

She clapped from the sidelines, smiled just right

Then went home

To cry into quiet nights.

Because she remembers

God, she remembers

How close she was

To becoming embers.

To lighting the world,

To burning bright.

Before fear convinced her to dim her light

She tells herself stories,

Soft and kind:

I needed rest, I needed time.

But beneath those lies,

Sharp and true, lives the grief

Of the life

She almost grew.

It hurts to know you weren’t outrun

You simply stopped when the race had begun

It hurts to see your younger dream

Standing frozen, halfway between

She is not lazy,

She is not small.

She didn’t lose talent;

she built a wall.

Brick by brick with anxious hands,

Protecting herself

From imagined lands.

And still ambition hasn’t died,

It aches like a ghost

Curled up

Inside

It watches her peers from behind her ribs,

Counting the chances

Her fear forbids.

Some nights she wonders if it’s too late,

If she’s sealed her future, locked her fate

If the world remembers who she was,

Or only who

She failed to become.

But listen closely- this isn’t the end.

This isn’t the place where stories bend.

Fear may have slowed her,

Bent her spine

But ambition still knows

How to climb

She is behind, yes

But not erased.

Not every race is meant to be raced.

And sometimes falling is how you see

How badly

You still want to be.

One day she will move

Not fearless, no

But honest enough

To finally go.

And when she does

The ground will shake

From every step

She was scared to take.

Because ambition doesn’t forget its home.

It waits…It aches.. It learns

To roam.

And even when broken, scared and late,

She is still capable

Of becoming something

Great.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a celebration of literary excellence, bringing together voices from around the globe to share their unique stories and perspectives. This esteemed competition invites participants to express their creativity and explore the depths of human experience through the written word.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Hiral Mankad for sharing her compelling poem "This isn't the place stories bend" with us. Her contribution to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 enriches the dialogue on ambition and personal growth. We look forward to witnessing her continued journey in the world of poetry and creative expression.

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.