Bubbles

Bubbles are bound to burst someday. We driftinside their shimmer, mistaking the fragile glowfor life. The fault is never with love, but our illusionof permanence makes it seem sothe heartbreak when it dissolvesbrings us out of an intoxicated state. Can we imagine ourselves beyond,unbound, choosing freely,discovering the core once expectations fall away? This is where … Continue reading Bubbles

Editors

“Once upon a time, editors were human, and they liked to exercise control.” She wondered if the relic from ancient times on the creaking armchair was just nostalgic or lamenting the end of an era. He was holding a book with yellowed pages authored by him close to his heart. “Gramps, this is 2126. Algorithms … Continue reading Editors

EOD (End-of-Day)

muscles achescattered mindneeds focus eyelids droopguilt hits hardI must write a page callsa thought screamsI am home Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge

Windows

I commuted to college in the local trains of Mumbai, back when they were not closed and air-conditioned. A window seat was a morning prize; standing at the door in the evening, the wind rushing against your face felt like a release. Road traffic drifted below, and the rectangular windows in buildings became silent openings … Continue reading Windows

Punctured

Hot air balloons of mutual expectationspuffed up with speeches and self-importance,hover like parade floats of borrowed virtue. One jab of realitysharp as a safety pinand the grand spectacle collapses,leaving the stench of heartbreakand a crumpled, wasted life Image credit - Lillian OLN at dVerse

Flight

undressingnever felt so goodpeeling off diaphanous garments-of imposed ideas-of attributed traitsthe scrap lying at her feetshards of broken mirrorsthat reflects a strangernot her face. floatingabove the groundShe feels the lightness-of authenticity-of a free mindunhinged from the gravity of expectationsShe flaps her wingsaligns herself with the skytakes off with the wind W3 Prompt #206

Protest

Outside the crumbling courthouse in Lucknow, a group of activists proudly announced their “relay hunger strike,” as if skipping lunch in shifts would terrify a politician who dines on stolen millions. Ramesh took the first turn, dramatically sipping water every five minutes, while declaring he was “on the brink of collapse.” Meena replaced him after … Continue reading Protest

Reena’s Xploration Challenge #425

Welcome back! PROMPT #425 We have an image with a caption to serve as your prompt. In the outline, she found silence. You can choose one or both as your inspiration. It is not necessary to combine the two for meaning. The real exploration lies in what the image or caption means to you. There … Continue reading Reena’s Xploration Challenge #425

Sticking Out

She walks past the crowded street, self-conscious like the only spot of colour in a drab landscape. Nobody ever told her whether she was beautiful or ugly, as her only companions on the island were flora and fauna. This place is different as there are so many with the same physical form, but none of … Continue reading Sticking Out