Those Were the Days - By Ms Gamter Ori

Written By: Ms Gamter Ori

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Ms Gamter Ori presents a poignant collection of poems titled "Those Were the Days" in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. This submission, under the Poetry category, navigates through the themes of childhood, love, and societal reflections. Through her evocative verses, Ms Ori takes readers on a journey of reminiscence and introspection, capturing the essence of simple joys and profound emotions with grace and depth.

About the Work

Ms Gamter Ori's work delves into the tender memories of childhood, the enduring beauty of nature, and the complexities of love. Her poetry is rich with imagery, weaving tales of innocence and nostalgia that evoke heartfelt responses. The verses explore the dichotomy between simplicity and complexity, highlighting the beauty in everyday experiences and the universal truths that bind us all. Her literary style is both reflective and insightful, encouraging readers to find beauty in the mundane and to question the nature of love and life.

Poetry

Original Submission by Ms Gamter Ori

BY MS GAMTER ORI

1. Those Were the Days

Those were the days when we were kids,

when life was gentle, and joy was easy.

Our parents could not afford tinkle digests,

yet their voices carried world to us.

With every tale of spirits and ghosts,

we curled together on the bamboo mat.

Half afraid, half thrilled,

but always felt safe,

in their embrace.

Those were the days when we were kids,

we had no dolls from the shinning shops,

but maize were enough for our dreams.

We braided their soft, yellow hairs,

held them close through the sunlit hours,

and in the evening, we tasted the sweet seeds.

Those were the days when we were kids,

we had no teddies to hug at sleep,

but kittens and puppies on our backs,

made our hearts softer

than any toys.

Those were the days when we were kids,

snacks were rare,

but the backyard fed

with wild berries in abundance.

Those were the days when we were kids,

no online things, no screens,

just laughter, sky, and seven stone games.

Those were the days when we were kids,

we lacked luxuries others see,

but lived in love and harmony.

And in those moments, pure and free,

we found our truest happiness,

just being kids, you and me.

2. Why I Love Flowers

People often ask me

why I love flowers so much.

The reasons are so many,

but one stays close to my heart.

Flowers don’t stop to ask

who owns the land they grow on.

They bloom as gladly by a hut

as they do beside a mansion.

They never say

the poor man’s yard

is not a place to shine,

nor promise any richer glow

for gardens of palace fine.

They rise with the same gentle grace

wherever the soil allows,

in a garden full of laughter

or beside a silent grave.

Their fragrance travels freely,

their petals fall the same,

they make no careful measure

of fortune, rank, or name.

And perhaps that’s why

I admire them this way,

for flowers know a kindness

humans forget every day.

3. A Question of love

Some days I live in quite grace

content with time and its pace,

yet some days questions fill my mind,

does true love exist, that one can find?

I think of one proud king of old,

a monarch crowned in power and gold.

Though wed already by law,

another lady caught his awe.

For seven long years he pressed his plea,

with jewels, with silks, with loyalty,

with blossoms bright and diamonds rare,

he proved how deeply he cared.

He said it came at first clear sight,

a love so pure, so right,

a love worth crowns and ancient ties,

a truth no law could compromise.

So fierce his will, so firm his claim,

he turned away from Rome,

bent old custom,

to bring her to his home.

Yet once the love was truly won,

the love story drowned soon,

for in three years the warmth grew cold,

less than the years his courtship hold.

The love that once defied the throne

soon cast the queen to stand alone.

Not only cast from royal grace

but doomed beneath the blade’s embrace.

What kind of love begins so bright

and ends in such ruthless night?

What heart can vow with burning breath

yet turn that vow to defamed death?

Perhaps true love is like a flower

in fragrant bloom but only for an hour.

4. Only Once

Privileged voices gently say,

“Life comes only once, so play,

taste the world and chase the sun,

fill your days with endless fun.”

They speak beneath a guarded sky,

where roofs are firm and walls are high,

where rain is music on the grass,

and storms are something that simply pass.

But somewhere on an open street,

bare earth and blistering heat

roams a soul with weary face

who owns no shelter, address, or place.

One stands drenched in pouring rain,

water mingling close with pain,

no roof to trust, no door to close,

just night that deepens as it goes.

One burns beneath the ruthless light,

skin against the sun so bright,

no shaded porch, no cooling air,

just dust growing everywhere.

Invisible homes of plastic thread

where silent hopes lie underfed,

a pavement serves as floor and bed,

with hunger’s echo widely spread.

A mouth that waits for bread,

not trice, not twice,

but once instead,

and a trembling hand on crowded roads,

a childhood bent by uncertain loads.

Born with wounds the world can see,

Yet robbed of choice and dignity.

Forced to beg in passing glare,

Half-clothed beneath indifferent stare.

Tell me then,

When all is done,

Is not their life a single one?

One beating heart, one fleeting breath,

One fragile step from birth to death.

For they too wake to morning’s light,

They too sleep through restless night,

Their once is brief, their once is true,

As rare, as final,

As mine, as yours.

The Youngest She

The youngest she,

Grew up in

The affectionate care of elder siblings.

Always wore third-hand clothes,

Yet carried a glow

Brighter than a new frock.

Being the youngest,

Her share of load

Was always the smallest.

She didn’t know then

That life would one day

Place her at the front

Married to the eldest son,

Pushed to walk a road

With no one ahead.

She fumbled

For a long while,

But to watch her steps,

She now knows well.

And, sometimes,

When she looks back,

She misses the girl

With the smallest chore

And the brightest smile.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a platform celebrating diverse voices and creative expressions. This competition brings together participants from various backgrounds, showcasing their talents in poetry, short stories, and essays. It serves as a space for writers to share their unique perspectives and connect with a global audience, fostering a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ms Gamter Ori for sharing her evocative collection, "Those Were the Days," with the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work offers a reflective journey through childhood memories and the essence of love, leaving a lasting impression on all who read her words. Thank you, Ms Ori, for your contribution to the world of poetry.

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.