What is success ? - By Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah

Written By: Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In an introspective and thoughtful submission titled "What is success ?", Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah delves into the essence of success in her poetry entry for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Shaheenah's work invites readers to question conventional measures of success and explores the quiet, personal victories that often go unnoticed. As part of the poetry category, this piece adds depth and personal insight to the ongoing dialogue about what it truly means to succeed.

About the Work

Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah's poem "What is success ?" reflects on the softer, often overlooked aspects of success. Through vivid imagery and poignant questions, the poem challenges readers to reconsider success beyond material achievements and societal validation. It suggests that true success may reside in kindness, resilience, and authenticity. The reflective tone and contemplative mood encourage a personal journey towards recognizing one's worth and embracing a quieter form of success.

What is success ?

Original Submission by Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah

What is success?

Is it counted in money,

stacked in numbers,

measured in what can be shown?

Is it the likes on a picture,

the followers watching,

the quiet validation of being seen?

Is it how far one climbs,

how high one reaches,

how many achievements can be named out loud?

Or is it something softer-

something the world doesn’t stop to measure?

Is it the way kindness survives

in a life that wasn’t always kind?

The refusal to become bitter

even when bitterness would be easier?

Is it the unseen work,

done in silence,

with no applause,

no recognition,

no proof?

Is it the goodness carried quietly,

through days that asked for hardness?

Because if success lives in numbers,

why does it never feel like enough?

Why does the finish line

keep moving further away,

turning every arrival

into another beginning?

Perhaps success was never meant

to be chased.

Perhaps it was never loud,

never something to be displayed,

never something the world could define.

Perhaps success lives in the quiet.

In rising,

even when staying down feels easier.

In choosing softness

in a world that rewards being hard.

In letting go of comparison,

of timelines,

of other people’s definitions.

Perhaps success is not becoming more,

but becoming true.

Not proving worth,

but recognizing it.

Not arriving somewhere distant,

but standing, finally,

in something real.

Maybe success is small.

Maybe it is personal.

Maybe it does not need to be understood

to be real.

that is enough.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar brings together writers from around the world to showcase their talents and creativity. This prestigious event celebrates the art of writing across various genres, providing a platform for poets, storytellers, and essayists to share their unique voices and perspectives. Participants engage with a global audience, exploring themes that resonate universally, while celebrating the diversity of human expression.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Shaheenah bibi zaynah kanowah for her insightful contribution, "What is success ?", to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her exploration of success through poetry offers a thought-provoking perspective that enriches the competition's tapestry of voices. We appreciate her participation and the opportunity to reflect on the deeper meanings of success through her work.

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.