A stranger seeking hearth and home
Belies the predictions made by some
Cataclysmic whispers from the winds
Defy optimism, but give in to hope
Each cry draws me, not heard by others
Footsteps light; illumination divine
Guides me through complex turbines
Heuristic algorithms grow inside
I’m sure I’ve been here before
Jalalabad is the centre of conflict
Khyber Pass is where stories travel
Laden with grief and tales of woe
Mountain gates open to let in days,
Nights beneath starless skies; yet a maze
Opportunist mornings, echoing evenings
Pour out vintage wines laced with blood
Questions hang loose on shifting horizons
Recurring horror tales evade answers
Stench of oppression seeps through souls
The psyche is but a collective memory
Unhinged from Belief, but gives no relief
Veneers of fake decency tearing apart
Whimpers of protest from fluttering hearts
Xylographic prints of a divided populace
Yet, a dream calls, a memory haunts
Zillions of lifetimes in the same continent
Disclaimer: Place names are used only to meet alphabetical requirements and have no historical or geographical significance. It is a work of fiction.
Creative Experiments and More 
A psychedelic trip through a land’s psyche and the persona’s tenuous grasp of it. Enjoyed this, Reena.
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Thank you, Dora!
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Great final two lines Reena 👏
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Thank you so much, Shaun! Hope your New Year has started well.
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Thanks, Reena – I’m not much of a fan of holidays and glad to be back to the routine of the grind.
I hope your 2026 sees you continue to rise 🙏
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🙌🥂
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this reads so well Reena – but even better as an abecedarius with A-H also
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I should try adding lines to it.
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if you like 😉
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Done.
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So true:
The psyche is but a collective memory
Unhinged from Belief, but gives no relief
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome, Reena.
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Brilliant poem Reena! I did not participate in MTB this week, I found the prompt too challenging!
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Every prompt is not made for us and vice-versa.
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Excellent writing Reena
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Thank you so much!
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You’re welcome ☺️
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