Where Words Cannot Follow - By Divya Moodley

Written By: Divya Moodley

Category: Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, Divya Moodley presents "Where Words Cannot Follow," a poignant exploration of the deep and immeasurable love for music. As a contributor to the poetry category, Moodley beautifully articulates a theme that transcends the spoken word, inviting readers into a world where music becomes both refuge and revelation. Her work resonates with anyone who has ever found solace and understanding in the notes of a melody, beyond the constraints of language.

About the Work

"Where Words Cannot Follow" by Divya Moodley captures the ineffable power of music to transport and transform. The poem evokes a powerful sense of immersion and surrender to sound, illustrating music's ability to evoke memories and emotions without needing explanation. Through vivid imagery and a reflective tone, Moodley underscores the universal connection and personal introspection that music provides, crafting an intimate narrative that speaks to the heart.

Where words cannot follow

Original Submission by Divya Moodley

Where Words Cannot Follow

I do not think you will ever understand

how much I love music.

Not like.

Love.

The kind of love that has no sensible measurement,

no beginning I can remember,

and no ending I can imagine.

I love music

in the way the ocean loves the shore—

returning,

again and again,

as though there were never anywhere else

it was meant to be.

Sometimes I put on a song

and disappear.

Not physically.

Something stranger.

The world keeps moving around me—

cars pass, people speak,

clocks continue their little tyranny—

and I am somewhere else.

Somewhere between

the first note

and the last.

And for those few minutes,

nothing can reach me.

No thought.

No fear.

No yesterday.

No tomorrow.

Just sound.

Maybe that is what I love most:

music asks nothing of me.

It does not ask me to explain

why my heart feels heavy.

It does not ask me

to put my sadness into sentences.

It simply sits beside me

and says,

I know.

And sometimes—

the lyrics do not even matter.

I could hear a song

in a language I have never spoken

and still feel something inside me

break open.

Because music was never only words.

It is the tremble

in someone's voice.

The drum beneath the silence.

The guitar string

that seems to ache when it bends.

The piano note

that hangs in the air

a second longer than it should.

It is the moment

before the chorus arrives—

that tiny breath—

and then

everything.

A song can make you remember

a person you have forgotten,

a place you have never been,

a version of yourself

you thought had disappeared.

And isn't that strange?

How a collection of sounds

can hold an entire life.

How three minutes

can contain a childhood.

How one melody

can become a doorway

to somewhere you cannot name.

I have fallen asleep to music.

Woken up to it.

Walked through cities with it

pouring into my ears.

Stared through car windows

while the world became a blur

and the song became the only thing

that felt real.

I have let music

break my heart.

And then,

somehow,

put it back together.

There are songs

I cannot listen to anymore

because they belong to a moment

I cannot return to.

And there are songs

I will carry forever

because somewhere inside them

is a version of me

that was once happy.

That is the power of it.

Music does not simply accompany memory.

Sometimes,

music becomes the memory.

And maybe you will never understand

what I mean when I say

I can get lost in a song.

I do not mean

I enjoy it.

I mean I surrender.

I let the melody pull me under.

I let the bass become my heartbeat.

I let the rhythm carry me

somewhere words cannot follow.

And for once,

I do not need to understand

what I am feeling.

I can simply feel it.

Maybe that is why

I will always love music.

Because the world is obsessed

with explaining everything.

Name it.

Define it.

Measure it.

Put it into words.

But music—

music does not care.

It can say everything

without explaining anything.

It can make you cry

without telling you why.

Make you dance

without giving you a reason.

Make you miss someone

you thought you were over.

Make you feel alive

when you had forgotten

what alive felt like.

And if someone asked me

what my favourite part of music is,

I do not think I could answer.

Because how do you explain

loving something

that has followed you

through every version of yourself?

How do you explain

that sometimes

a single chord

can reach somewhere inside you

that language never could?

How do you explain

that there are moments

when I put my headphones on,

close my eyes,

and for a little while—

the entire world disappears.

Not because I hate the world.

But because music

shows me how beautiful

it can be

to leave it behind.

Just for a moment.

Just long enough to breathe.

Just long enough

to become nothing

but a heartbeat,

a melody,

a human being

completely and utterly

lost in the music.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates the diverse voices and creative talents across the globe. This prestigious competition invites participants to share their unique perspectives through poetry, short stories, and essays, fostering a vibrant community of writers who push the boundaries of creative expression. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of the written word.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Divya Moodley for her introspective piece, "Where Words Cannot Follow," featured in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her work beautifully captures the essence of music's silent language, reminding us of its unparalleled ability to touch the soul. We look forward to seeing more of her evocative poetry 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.