Disembarked

The map in my hand glows with certainty, its arrow unwavering; yet every path I choose threatens to disembark me. I walk anyway, trusting momentum over intuition. The wind translates my intentions into a poem, but scatters my signals like static. Still, something in the distance keeps calling—soft, patient, as if it knew I would … Continue reading Disembarked

The Fishermen Know

Silhouetted against the deep grey sky, we turn into wispy shadows. Evenings on the beach are scary, as they make us aware of our smallness. The high tides will cover everything on the golden sands, leaving behind a residue of jellyfish and water snakes. We will walk cautiously again, waiting for the sunrise, and get … Continue reading The Fishermen Know

Back and Forth

Someone pushed me from the deck,and the world tiltedair fled my lungs,the bridge behind me crumbled into dust,and the ship sailed onas if I had never stood upon it. In the hush beneath the surface,a force gathered itself from currents,slowly taking form.On the far bank, it rose a silhouette I knew before I sawIt is … Continue reading Back and Forth

Healing

The camera on my computer plays gamesI see myself bald in a cancer wardsitting on my chair dressed for workI ask my colleagues what they seeThey reply with a forlorn faceMaybe you should skip work and rest… A nurse appears who looks like meWith a luminous bandage for my soulThe device takes me to a … Continue reading Healing

Starkness

witnessa slice of soulcraving for a dark shroudto bury an unfulfilled wishit failsto see inadequacy oftattered human fabricstark nakednessmocks grace Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #43 - Ekphrastic

Awakening of Conscience

Conscience lies buried beneath last winter’s choiceshibernating for lack of choice or assumed helplessnessmurmuring through frost as if remembering a path once taken.I follow its faint warmthawaiting a call whena moment of thaw becomes truthand truth becomes direction. Quadrille #238

Gold

Granny loved experimenting with emojis, and her incorrect usage was often a subject of humour in the family. She learnt FaceTime long before Zoom arrived, to stay in touch with her grandchildren who lived abroad. Then, one day, the emoji pack she had downloaded disappeared from her phone. Maybe one of her grandkids decided to … Continue reading Gold

Troubled Waters

Business empires are built by close-knit lobbies, those who act in unison and do not leak information. But loyalty dissolved like sugar in troubled waters. No wonder, for a key member was the competitor’s implant in the system. Weekend Writing Prompt #446

Messengers of the Universe

If a messenger takes eons to reach the Earth, what happens to the message? Does it lose meaning, or does it mutate during the journey to stay relevant? The recipients know nothing of the source or the purpose of the message. They respond in a manner they think is right for their circumstances. Then, where … Continue reading Messengers of the Universe

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #411

Welcome to the last RXC prompt of 2025! I will be on a break till the first week of January, 2026! Enjoy the holidays! PROMPT #411 Here is a sentence for you to ponder. You are winding up a number (2025) in the flow of life. "It was not my idea, but it happened." You … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #411