Stuti Manda

From the women of the past, 
To the women of the future. 
We write to thee, 
As a note for you to heed. 
You must have heard the stories of princesses, 
Being rescued by their princes
Though it is of utmost importance that you know, 
That you don’t need to sit around waiting to be saved. 
You must have heard the stories of great women,
Who didn’t bend to the rules of society and demanded equality. 
But do not feel dejected, 
You, too, will do great things in your life. 
You, too, will face obstacles, 
But you, too, will overcome them, proving so many people wrong. 
Even if you stay home for your family, 
You, too, are doing a great deed. 
You now have to make sure, 
That a woman achieving anything is a norm. 
From the women of the past, 
to the women of the future.

Takhte Writers & Publishers, organises the ‘India-Ireland Poetry Fest’ on the theme ‘Care, Courage and Commitment’.

For centuries, countless hours were nuanced to consider the context of coherent understanding of the 3 Cs, ‘Care, Courage and Commitment’ for noteworthy living. The ideals related to it we create, derive and share. So let’s construct to comprehend the 3Cs, and you can write on any one or all.

The festival aims at bringing together the poets and poetry of both countries on a single platform to express in unique compositions.

The fest is open to children and youth (aged 11-24) from India and Ireland. It is a month-long activity from May 10, 2022, until June 9, 2022. We are honoured to have the good wishes from His Excellency Shri Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Ambassador to Ireland and also he has graciously agreed to be the Chief Guest of the virtual book launch / valedictory event (Date to be announced).

Best juried poems will be published in an e-book (with ISBN), and an E-Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to the winners. Post book launch, an e-Certificate of participation for ones who could not make it to the e-book.

You are welcome to write and submit the poems using the Google Form https://forms.gle/qWKuHwWzuNQnBm1c9

Make sure your poem is in English, original, never published and within the limit of 500 words. It could be any poetry genre (allegory, elegy, ekphrasis, fable, lyric, hymn, ode, paean, parody and so on) under the above theme. Please note participation is free.

For any queries, write to takhtevov@gmail.com, #91 9311845524

Akshita Sehrawat
The Heritage School,
Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

She used to be the “free-spirited girl”,
She used to be the girl who was “everyone’s friend”
She used to be the shiny pearl
Until she turned into a fiend

She was all of it until she was nothing,
Now she’s a shell of what she used to be,
Wandering around in hopes of finding something,
An aimless wanderer living life always thinking maybe?

She looks for sunshine in the dark alleys,
She looks for warmth in the icy cold,
All of this is madness supposedly,
But hope keeps one alive is what she’s been told

What she wants is to get her life back,
What she wants is her sanity,
What she wants is to get out of this endless black,
And put a stop to this inhumanity

She wakes up trying for a fresh start,
In hopes of forgetting the past,
But it betrays her, her disloyal heart,
And once again, her reminiscence leaves her aghast

Each day she picks up the pieces,
Of what is left of her life,
Each day her hope decreases,
But she knows that she has to survive

In her heart, she knows there is nothing left,
But she also has to put on an act for everyone else,
So she gets ready for her office looking her best,
And plasters a smile as if that night had no effect.

Photo Courtesy-alex-ronsdorf-unsplash