Poems

POEMS

THOUGHTS... & EXPRESSIONS

Selected best works from the inaugural Times of Oman Literary Contest

1

A literary initiative from Muscat Media Group

Selected best works from the inaugural Times of Oman Literary Contest

A literary initiative from

Muscat Media Group

2

3

A WORD FROM THE CEO

Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali CEO Muscat Media Group

Published by Muscat Media Group P O Box : 770, Postal Code 112 Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman

The book is an authorized publication of selected winning entries of the inaugural Times of Oman Literary Contest. All content in this book is declared original works of the credited authors who also hold their copyrights and MMG holds no responsibility in the event of any contrary claim which may be taken up with the respective author directly.

4

On behalf of the MMG team, I wish to convey the heartiest congratulations to all the winners and participants in the inaugural “Times of Oman Literary Contest”.

MMG’s work ethos has always revolved around the empowerment of our readers and we believe that real empowerment comes not just from sharing of knowledge and information but from providing a channel for expression as well. As we move forward into a new digital era where geographical barriers no longer exist for communication of thoughts and ideas, effective expression holds the key. Contests of this nature open the doors of young minds, enabling them to be creative, thoughtful and introspective. The excellent and overwhelming response we have received bears testimony to the abundance of latent literary talent in the region.

We look forward to your continued enthusiasm and participation as the contest evolves in the coming years. I would also like to thank our business partners who have come forward and shared our values and vision in this new endeavour and look forward to their continued association in the future editions.

Best Wishes.

5

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE

FOREWORD

A LANDMARK OFFERING

SUPPORTING LOCAL TALENT

Pradeep Govind Head-Literary Contest Committee Muscat Media Group

The Times of Oman Literary Contest is yet another landmark offering from Muscat Media Group, aimed at providing a platform for talented and aspiring writers to express themselves and benchmark their writing skills with the best in the region. The inaugural edition was launched on September 1st 2013 and open for submissions till January 9, 2014. The contest was held in Short Stories, General Essays and Poetry in the age group of 10-15 years and above 15 years. Online participation was also enabled for the contest. Unlike the regular writing contests normally held in the region, this competition was unique in the sense that there was no restriction on the topic. The participants were given a free run for their imagination and over four months to write, refine and submit their work. The evaluation of the submissions was made by an independent panel of highly eminent judges with weightage given to originality, presentation, language, theme and overall impact.

It was heartening to see the fantastic and enthusiastic response to the contest from across the Sultanate. The contest had participation from nationals of various countries encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UK, USA, Ireland, France, Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Venezuela, Philippines, Egypt, Tanzania, Jordan, Iraq, Singapore, China, Scotland and of course the host country.. Oman. Even more interesting was the response to the online participation. The fact that many of the online submissions were made in the hours of the night as late as 2 am is an indication of the seriousness and commitment of the participants. The results were announced in May 2014 and due to the overwhelming requests we have been getting, MMG has decided to bring out the award winning entries in this book for your reading pleasure.

MMG congratulates all the prize winners and the honourable award winners for their achievement in this inaugural edition and also thanks all those who participated and wishes great success in their writing endeavors in the years ahead. We look forward to more participation in the future editions of the contest in the coming years. MMG also wishes to thank the panel of judges for their valuable time and enthusiasm for the project and also our business associates who came forward as our partners in this historic and landmark event in the field of literature, a first of its kind in the region.

6

ZUBAIR CORPORATION This initiative is part of our strategy to implement meaningful community-based initiatives throughout Omani society. Achieving good levels of literacy by forming the habit of reading regularly is a lifetime skill for every member of the community. Communicating with the society allows for the study of issues arising from the heart of the community by identifying its needs. The Zubair Corporation endeavors to engage the conscious youth, who are aware of the needs of the community.

Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Zubair, Managing Director of The Zubair Corporation and the head of the Social Advisory Committee

SOHAR ALUMINIUM

We are quite pleased to have been a part of this unique initiative to promote literary talents in Oman. We at Sohar Aluminium believe in empowerment at all levels. Empowerment cannot be attained by the industrial aspect alone, but also by the intellectual growth of its people. The English writer Alfred North Whitehead once said “It is in literature that the concrete outlook Eng. Said Mohamed of humanity receives its expression”. Indeed, through literature Al Masoudi CEO we not only express our perspective of the world with its tangible Sohar Aluminium and abstract notions, but also contribute to the promotion of our culture. Oman has always been a cradle of magnificent literature, and great poets and writers have emerged from this land. Thus it’s only our duty to maintain this literary tradition and be part of the on-going development of our nation.

JINDAL SHADEED

I am indeed very happy that the contest was concluded with great success. I welcome the initiatives taken up by Times of Oman to bring hidden talents of the youth. The opportunity created by the group was harnessed fully by all the contestants. The contest gave ample opportunity to the youth to display their talents in the field of literature. I heartily congratulate the winners of this contest and am very happy to note their deep knowledge levels at this tender age. May The Almighty Allah bless them.

7

N A Ansari CEO Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel

JUDGING PANEL

JUDGING PANEL

SELECTING ONLY THE BEST WORKS Donald Sargent He is a regional teacher, trainer and advisor in the Ministry of Education. His connection with Oman goes back to 1977 when he first came to work in Oman. Of the last 36 years, 19 have been spent in Oman, with breaks to go and work in Poland, China, Russia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He was born in Dublin, which accounts for his interest in Anglo-Irish literature. His favourite poet is Ireland’s greatest poet. W.B. Yeats.

He went to the same school as Yeats and one of his prized possessions is a signed book the poet gave his mother.

His primary love is the theatre and as a child acted in many plays at the famous Gate theatre in Dublin. Though an ambition to be a full time actor was never realized, he has kept his interest in the theatre by acting and directing many amateur productions in countries where he worked.

He also helped to produce and act in a series called ‘English and the Arts’ for Polish TV and acted in a series of scenes for teaching English for Chinese TV. Whenever in the UK he makes it a point to attend as many plays as possible and it is his aim to see all the Shakespearean cannon. He tries to read the literature of a wider world including Arabic literature. He makes it a point to try and read the Mann Booker shortlist each year.

Sonia Ambrosio de Nelson She is an assistant professor in department of Mass Communications in Sultan Qaboos University and was previously an assistant professor at Sohar University in the Journalism and Communication Programme since 2008. Born in Brazil, Sonia has a MA and PhD from the National University of Singapore. Before entering the academe Sonia worked as a reporter and completed her journalism career as an international correspondent to the BBC World Service - Brazil Section and other broadcasting and publishing houses. Since entering the academe, Sonia has been active in bridging the gap between the practice and the education of journalism. In Oman, Sonia is involved in community activities; she is also a regular speaker in the areas of communication and journalism in the Sultanate.

8

Michele Ni Thoghdha Michele Ni Thoghdha, fondly known as Mish Mish, is the Chief Supervisor for English with MOE, Oman. As a child she had great difficulty in learning how to speak and was greatly helped by her Mum and a speech teacher by the name of Nuala Johnson. She subsequently went on to study to be an English, History, Speech & Drama and Public Speaking teacher. She studied at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and also at the Guildhall School of Music, Speech & Drama, London, UK. Prior to coming to Oman she worked in the Irish State School system for several years. Subsequently, she worked extensively both as a teacher and teacher trainer with the Refugee Council and The Red Cross prior to coming to Oman in 1989. She has a long relationship with the Times of Oman. She is a committee member of the Times of Oman Readers Club. She loved being involved in the ‘Times of Oman Literary Contest’ as it was an experience that was both very enriching and humbling.

Patricia Groves Patricia Groves is a distinguished Canadian educator who lectured on the Social History of Art & Music, as well as on the Media for 17 years, before assuming high-level executive posts in the Canadian Higher Education system. Resident in Oman since 1997, Dr Groves currently holds the post of Academic Advisor on the University of Oman Project at the Ministry of Higher Education.

She spends her leisure time writing and loves working with Hi as an ‘Art and Culture’ columnist. In addition to reviews of art and cultural events and travel writing, she has published a book on Oman’s forts and castles, called ‘Strongholds of Heritage’, and wrote the text for Mohammed Zubair’s beautiful book, ‘Oman’s Architectural Journey.’

The book she wrote on Omani and Indian painting called ‘Art Across the Ocean’ is forthcoming. She also edited a world cuisine cookbook, as well as editing ‘Memoirs of an Omani Gentleman from Zanzibar’. Dr Patricia is presently a major writer for a new book on the Royal Opera House Muscat.

Jane Jaffer Bickmore Jane Jaffer Bickmore is an author of several books. She is also a professional therapeutic counsellor, a Reiki healer, and chairperson of the charity ‘Let’s Read’. The Let’s Read Committee promotes the love of reading to children in Oman and recently launched Maktabati, Oman’s first mobile library.’ She is a friend of the media in Oman and has been contributing meaningful educative articles, from time to time, in Times of Oman, Hi Weekly, and other publications.

9

CONTENTS Poems (10 – 15 years) 12 The Desert River Madhumathi M G 14 I Just Want You to Let Me Be Veyelenta Audrey Desouza 15 The Toy Seller Maitrayee Singh 17 A Prayer for the Dying Priya Modi 18 A Woman is not a Coward Veylenta Audrey Desouza 19 Broken Seashells Gloria D’Souza 20 Breeze of Quietness Ananya Sangavaram 22 Poemization – The Man of Steel Basith Mohamed 25 Mars – The Ultimate Destination Sandra John 27 Say No to Dowry Veylenta Audrey Desouza 28 The Friend Who Changed My LifeSalin Jishon George 30 Cherry Blossoms Toshali Sengupta 32 Witches’ Brew Rahul Kumble 34

149

Poems (15 + years)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

The Desert River Madhumathi M G (1st Prize winner)

She rushed across mountains which pleaded her to stay, She gushed over tablelands and plunged down valleys, She flashed by trees which warned her to turn, She derided, disparaged, mocked and moved on.

‘Twas only miles away from the mountains and trees That she felt the scorching heat of the devourer.

Realization dawned on her glistening self; Her life was ebbing into the sand beneath her.

Her defiant heart pushed her to go on But her waters could not flow in the hostile wilderness.

She watched herself slowly evanesce into emptiness Till her lifeblood dripped into the dryness of the desert.

Born to the rain and the land, She was a lonesome forsaken child.

She succumbed to the sun and the sand, Only too late to think, to learn.

Born to the rain and the land, She was a lonesome forsaken child.

She grew up in green plains, without a guiding hand Rash, temerarious and wild.

She swirled and flowed, on and on, To a destination unknown on an uncharted course Until at last, on a bright sunny morn, She was stopped by a hill, the first of her ‘foes’.

“Turn back to your land, or flow elsewhere; Tarry not further, wait no more, Slight I am, yet I see more than you.

I sight the coming of a drought harsh and dour.”

But she scoffed, scorned and thought to herself, She was a source of life, fierce and unstoppable.

“Drought cannot devour me, famine cannot finish me” She scoffed, scorned and went around the hill.

Until then she’d flowed on to sustain herself But now she had an aim, an irrational desire.

Till then she purled to where the land led her, Now she surged forward, to meet her destroyer.

12

13

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

I Just Want You To Let Me Be

The Toy Seller Maitrayee Singh (3rd Prize winner)

Veylenta Audrey Desouza (2nd Prize winner)

It all started the day you said That I was big now; I had to get it in my head.

I was to follow the rules you laid down Be smart, be nice and never be seen with a frown Excel in everything I do In short, be just like you.

You say I’m stubborn and I always argue You say I never listen to you I never accept my mistakes (okay, that’s true) But it’s a flaw, what can I do?

You want me to be perfect But excuse me, haven’t you heard? Nobody’s perfect.

Why remove all the fun Out of the work that is to be done?

And why is it a competition, a race?

Does it really matter – that first place?

Look into my world, try to put yourself in my shoes I guess you won’t have a clue Let me make my mistakes, doesn’t matter if I fall down I can always pick myself up from the ground I want to be free to live my life, that’s what I want I want to be free, to be me, I just want you to let me be……..

14

Aloud these children scream When they see the toy seller in the lane of this busy little village Children rush out of their houses Like they are little mice Their face glowing with happiness You cannot see a pinch of sadness The toy seller’s eyes are glistening with tears He yells “Take these toys!! Dolls for girls, And football for boys Children will be happy with these little toys!!”

Which everyone in the village overhears!

His son beside him carrying jewelries and saris for ladies And now another cry is heard by the people in the village “Saris for beautiful ladies And jewelries to make them even more beautiful” Excited at these lines the ladies swiftly rush out of their houses And purchase as much as possible As the day’s sale got over

15

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

The toy seller and his son started their way back home!!

A young boy passes their way with his mother As any other child he was no different Wanted a toy for himself But his mother refused to buy thus adding to his grief!!

A Prayer for the Dying Priya Modi

On reaching home The toy seller thought about the boy Who eagerly wanted the toy “I should have given the football to him for free As he looked very poor to me” The next day the toy seller went around the village To search for the same boy There were several boys of his age But hardly could he find him!!

Yet another day passed by The toy seller could not find nearby Later in the day on his way back home The toy seller saw the same young boy passing by This time with his dad The toy seller went to him and gifted him the ball The boy got overjoyed His father thanked the toy seller for this all!!

Years passed by, the toy seller got older Still selling toys and spreading joy all over The boy he had given the football for free Was now a grown up young man of twenty three And you know what…

He turned out to be a famous football player for his country!!

He used to mention the toy seller’s name Whenever they won a game Kindness had brought the toy seller fame For being the reason of this boy’s success in the game…!!

16

From the raging voices of the ground And the sky that holds no bounds The deep meaning hidden beneath The wild cries beyond one’s reach The broken bond between Heaven and Earth The darkness slowly shadowing the dirt The land all over, cracked up The wind slowly speeds up Foul smell from the incinerating Hell below Crawling up the dark hollow Cries of death and hopes of life Uncertainty of those who survived The leafless trees all destroyed Life on Earth has virtually died Long gone the melodious voice of the nightingale Long forgotten that praying Angel He has turned and walked away And it’s our fault, we to blame So let us start all over Find a cure to this endless hunger

17

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

A Woman Is Not A Coward

Broken Seashells

A woman is not a milk-white lamb That bleats for man’s protection Nor a little crooning bird That yearns for man’s affection

Living in a world of pretend I’ve grown weary of deceit, the ocean comforts me the sand soothes my feet.

Looking into the blue expanse in my mind is a fantasy that in another life, another time I’d finally be me.

I wade into the swirling water my heart talking to the waves; and pondering anxious thoughts for respite, my spirit craves.

Lost in a dream of wishes of hopes and could-bes, I stand in the fading light the water lapping at my knees.

And there by the rocks on the shore of a sea, broken sea shells under my feet bring me back to reality.

Gloria D’Souza

Veylenta Audrey Desouza

Rather, she is a lioness Who can do very well on her own.

A lioness who has courage In each particle of her flesh and bone She is not a toy, nor an asset Nor a lowly slave And don’t think she’s always afraid No, she can be very brave And for all those out there Who think she can be freely abused Think again. For one day no more can she be controlled One day no more will she allow herself to be used.

18

19

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Breeze of Quietness Ananya Sanagavaram

I could see you, You were crying, your eyes like overflowing inkwells.

Then he came with cruel, sinful strides.

Coal pupils burning in his eyes.

As he shamelessly extended his merciless axe, You; you were petrified.

You stood there like a frozen shadow, Awaiting an impossible savior who failed you.

His suffocating aura edged closer, You felt his menacing breath heaving like a roaring fire, He stabbed you in cold gale of hot air, In no mercy nor regret just plain rejection, You still lived but with a bleeding heart…

You treaded back trying to save yourself, Step by pained steps like crumbling pebbles.

Until you crawled to Rosemary lake, You knew there was no other way to escape.

I saw you don’t hide, I know your tale, one behind this rippling face, You were a maiden with starlit eyes.

And tulip blushes.

A dulcet embrace to life, Your world livened as you saw the man, One who whisks you and flatters you in false pride, One that adorned you with his sick wealth.

He crowned you in materialism in a dream until, He bruised you and drank, And bruised and drank.

Your tulip blush became scars, Starlit eyes blinked woebegone tears.

Then you embraced life as a burden.

He bruised you and drank And bruised and drank.

Until he decided to end you,

20

He was closing in like fiery crackles in licking flames You had to, you whispered to your conscience You have to sacrifice yourself.

To the mercy of these waters, They will either drown you, Or let you haunt its body.

So in shear thought and anguished breaths, You bravely dived in with a resounding splash.

Followed by a guiltless laugh of the man; you once, ‘Loved’ Silence reined, I visited your rippling grave everyday.

Hearing you’re mourning morning cry.

Every 365 days of countless years, I visited you.

So please don’t hide, remember I know you…

Just don’t run or utter anything.

Lets’ just share our miseries with glances only, And live this eeriness for eternity, As you merged into quietness and I into breeze.

21

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Poemization The Man of Steel Basith Mohamed

The ship he used to arrive in this earth Had the information for the purpose of his birth, But can one desire too much of a good thing The message came with a gruesome warning The traitorous general who was banished to the deep space Returned and vowed revenge to tear this man’s face, For what his father had once done Back when the planet still shone They stormed planets after planets Mainly for two deadly reasons One to capture and kill that kid Then sacrifice the planet to restore what they owned With enormous speed they raced here To finally complete his horrible desire Apocalypse finally reached the earth The planet entered snake’s mouth

Far amidst the depth of space Lies a planet on it final days, Though a man predicted this fate His men understood him far too late.

Hope of life was driven out From the planet which held life throughout, What can stop this immoral genocide Where can be their hidden weak side

To save what he could in the planet to be blown He launched his son to worlds unknown, The child crashed into our planet’s dirt Rescued by a farmer, completely unhurt.

Deep from the gloom came the hope Sometimes a leopard otherwise an antelope, Rushing in for the big comeback Came the final stand of the planet in attack

The boy at first had no clue What his body could really do, A power breaking the darkness of the night Squeezed in a man, constrict and tight.

The thunder struck, the seas roared Through the sky he zoomed and soared, At last he reached the final point To alone face the evil tyrant

Slowly he realized he was an odd one out And researched about himself with a sudden bout, Finally came the time for the farmer To tell the way he found him in that crater

At the place where the modern civilization sailed The final battle of the good and evil enraged, The city was completely torn apart Both looked like each other’s own counterpart

22

23

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

But the dawn came in the right time Death was the only option for the general’s crime, Peace restored to the planet’s face It was the beginning for earth’s new days

Mars-The Ultimate Destination Sandra John

The hero then merged with the crowd Left no trace of how he lived, But when in danger he rises With the strength with which the earth shivers Indeed, He was the man of steel

As curiosity circles the surface of Mars I long to visit the Red Planet.

I’d love to go up in a spaceship And see Mars and all things on it.

I wonder why you seem so red and bright Perhaps there are fields of roses on you Or even rivers of blood and mountains of copper Or maybe you were painted by the Man on the Moon.

I’d love to go and see The mountains and craters on Mars.

I wish I could fly up there right now And play hide and seek on your plains.

Of course, there might be aliens too Wouldn’t it be fun to meet them?

I’d love to talk to them, and find out more About that beautiful red globe they live on.

24

25

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Say No to Dowry

And I’d like to go dune-bashing On the surface of Mars.

I know there’s water and ice caps up there So why don’t we go live on Mars?

Veylanta Audrey Desouza

I don’t know why people think That you are a symbol of bad luck.

You bring war and destruction everywhere But I still think you look fun.

But on a more serious note, My Earth is no longer fit to live on Humans have used their greed And turned this beautiful green planet Into a dystopian wasteland.

There’s no clean water for us to drink And not enough food to satisfy our hunger We don’t even have clean air to breathe in!

How are we supposed to live here?

Why are women treated as inferior?

Why are they forced to live in fear?

It’s all because of your silly traditions and rules Treating them like donkeys and mules.

Mars can be our second chance Our last hope to save ourselves We can try our best, to repeat ourselves And live freely once again.

One of these evils is dowry So tell me, why do you need dowry?

Is it because of the money and gold, you mean?

That’s why you treat her like a money-vending machine?

And that’s why I propose We all pack up and move to Mars To ensure the survival of our race And also, to travel through space!

Is marriage a long-term investment for you?

And your excuse is “It’s nothing new” “Everybody does it and no harm in asking” But you’re not asking, you’re shamelessly begging.

And if your needs are not fulfilled, what then?

Will you beat her? Burn her to death?

Just because she couldn’t satisfy your unending greed?

It’s because of your want, not because of your need.

So after all this, learn a lesson Evict this evil tradition Don’t ask her family any money Please say NO to dowry.

26

27

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

The Friend Who Changed My Life Salin Jishon George

A friend like you is hard to find!

You helped me walk safely, Through the obstacles bravely.

You opened my eyes to realize the talent in me.

But our happiness didn’t last long, Death separated you from me.

But why did God take you away from me?

My wounded heart he wanted to see?

Death should have taken away my soul, instead of yours.

With tears I stand near your grave, Knowing I am alone again.

But your memories are with me.

In everything I see, I feel your presence.

You’re the sunlight on the ripened grain.

You’re the gentle autumn rain.

Where can I ever find a friend like you?

When you were with me I didn’t realize my pains.

When you were with me I didn’t regret about my past.

When you were with me I could share my feelings.

My life was troubled by worries, My life was filled with sorrows and pains, My life without anyone was plain.

I wept day and night, But there were none to hear.

But when you are not with me, My life is not complete…

And then you came into my life, And lifted me up with a helping hand, You helped me to pierce through the darkness, And enter into a new world.

A friend like you is hard to find!

I wrote your name on the sand, Where the wind came and blew it away.

I engraved your name in my heart, Were forever it will stay.

You cried with me, when I was sad.

And laughed with me, when I was glad.

28

29

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Cherry Blossoms Toshali Sengupta

Never again But suddenly dead Falling to the ground Petals spread Bending down I pick another Suddenly a gunshot A cry from a mother A young girl dead A pretty blossom in my head Softly I pluck it off Kissing it I let it drop Whispering a prayer I turn the other way My life goes on But a blossom lies dead

A lingering scent in the air Pretty girls, young and fair Laughing without a care, in the world I struggle along, no more a girl The years have ridden me Of my smooth skin, Strength and beauty None left within I walk a path Slow and steady Plucking blossoms off the ground Each step weary Cherry blossoms Soft and pink Infinite beauty Held within

30

31

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Witches’ Brew Rahul Kumble

I come across an abandoned cottage, Decrepit and ruined, A scene of joy turned to hate.

The voices stop and I am released, Left to rot, In the swamp, I am doomed.

I realize now, That beyond the rainbow, There is no gold, No light at the end of the tunnel.

Only deception and treachery await, Those foolish enough to follow the voices.

POET’S NOTE The basic idea of the poem is to highlight the dangers of advertising which, sadly, is a very real problem now-a-days.

I walk through the woods, Content and carefree when, Paranoia and anxiety reveal themselves.

I run in a frantic fright, Hoping to find solace from the beast, Lurking in the shadows.

There are several symbolic elements in the poem, which shall be explained below:

I stumble into a clearing, Five obelisks surround me.

The wisps of yonder swamp beckon, I follow entranced, Ever deeper into the forbidding bog.

I hear the manic murmurs of an insane mind, Tempting me to doom.

I follow still, Mind held in a trance, Hallucinations rule, Reality fades.

The machine elves guide me through.

32

The narrator: The narrator symbolizes the average consumer.

The woods: The woods show the cheerful, contented life that the narrator leads.

Paranoia and anxiety: Companies that create unnecessary needs cause these problems.

The beast: The beast symbolizes the companies who only care about profit while ignoring the needs of the consumer.

The clearing: The clearing symbolizes the internet/marketplace.

The five obelisks: the obelisks are used to represent the companies, ominous and malicious.

The wisps: The wisps are the advertisements, soft and gentle from the outside but malevolent and evil from the inside.

The swamp: The swamp is the company/companies that win the consumer over with excessive advertising.

The machine elves: They are the actors/models who act/model in the advertisements.

The cottage: The cottage is the substandard product/service that the consumer receives which could have been good had the manufacturer/vendor cared about quality.

33

CONTENTS Poems (15+ Years) 36 The Ultimate Decision Aarya Anil 38 Hungry Shreya Shreeraman 40 Lullaby Ankita Sadarjoshi 42 From Me to You Shilpa George 45 Simple Embraces Harris Jamil Alam Khan 48 Hide in Plain Sight Rajat Ray 50 Library Lovers Ankita Sadarjoshi 53 Masquerade Sherin Susan Babu 55 People Always Leave Ankita Sadarjoshi 57 Poem of the Earth Dhruv Ganjoo 59 The Cocoon Gladwin George 60 The Little Girl on the Stone Wall Shreya Shreeraman

173

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

The Ultimate Decision Aarya Anil (1st Prize winner)

She looked at God, tears in her eyes, “I do not know my lord” she cried, “I am so confused, I am so lost, Its like I am being haunted by a ghost.”

God smiled,wiped off her tears and said “Take your time,my sweet child, Make the right decision, And let it be your ultimate decision”.

She decided to try again, And looked back into the crowd, She opened her heart , And this time looked through that part.

Just then she noticed, A face she had missed before, A face whose beauty was defined by kindness, A face determined to give the best guidance.

The gates of heaven opened up, For the child was to be sent to Earth, The time had come for her to be layed, Into caring hands that would welcome her there.

Before she went, like all others before her, She had the liberty to choose, One among millions of awaiting parents, To become their heir apparent.

And beside that face there was another, An awaiting, anxious one, Though it was hardened by experience, It was equally build by brilliance.

Seeing their faces sparked something in her heart, An experience so unique to describe, Right then, right there she knew, Her ultimate decision was through.

She looked at God and looked back again, Into the never ending ocean of parents, Whom to choose, her eyes searched, Not knowing what to do.

God saw her fears, he saw her change, Her mind from time to time, Though she searched she couldn’t find, Two hearts like hers to bind.

God smiled and said, “my dear child, What takes you too long to decide, I have but presented you the part, To choose from millions of loving hearts.”

36

37

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

Hungry

Shreya Shreeraman(2nd Prize winner)

Why, then, do you torture me so, Mirror, mirror, monstrous mirror?

Why do you reveal my vastness, my ugliness?

My reflection in you is now my terror Yesterday, it was half a morsel Today, it will be none I have thrown myself into ceaseless mundanity Where fear and shame have already won Sobbing into my pillow, red-eyed, dizzy-headed I weep till the curtains glow with morning light Upon the walls, mocking models relish my failure Goading me into another sleepless night

Dedicated to all those anorexics out there; please believe you are beautiful just as you are.

Writhing among the embers of my soul I helplessly watch as my world fades away I’ve lost my life chasing a wispy dream A dream dreamt in vain, every day.

The table is laden with sublime savouries The clinking of cutlery fills the air, The delicious flavours entice me, taunt me, Then push me away without a care.

There is a hungry beast inside me In savage search of its prey It wrestles angrily, trying to escape My will alone holds it at bay My criminal hands refuse to listen To the miserable pleas of my heart They spit on those cruel cravings for food, Inspired, instead, by the sneering diet chart I can’t, I want to, I crave, I dare not When I look down at myself, all I see Is cracking skin and jutting bones And tired limbs, all crying out to me

38

39

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

Lullaby

Ankita Sadarjoshi (3rd Prize winner)

The candle and night gleam in agreement, Their fate sealed in a candlewax deal; To honour one another, to guide and to smother, When time comes for morning to be revealed.

The candle and night might not be lovers, But forever shall they stay friends; For they have an oath to honour, and daylight to conquer, To ensure the lullaby never ends.

A candle bathes the nighttime dark With a ghostly, unwavering glow; Its fiery tongue licks the air With passion that could melt snow.

A soothing spark, an angel in the dark; It calms the bedside terrors, Drowns the scares, the nocturnal ‘mares, The highly eerie errors.

With ribbons of ember, it binds the night And locks it in an hourglass; Where a yellow waterfall roars And bleeds freely on the bed sheet grass.

Its halo of warmth hugs the still air, And sets millions of fairies alight; It prolongs the protection, the latent affection Of the otherwise sinister night.

40

41

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

From Me to You Shilpa George

To you, I want to say You are bursting, bursting at the seams with the vigour, to swing freshly folded paper planes, the innocence to believe that kind stranger, who offered you treats for a leer, the hope that guesses the gift, while tearing away crackling shiny wrapping paper, the unending energy to paint, every last sunset with a myriad of blunt color pencils and paint palette sets The world will come to you in the form of dial-up internet Your period will come with pillows you need to slap on Expectations will be met in the pretext of cut-off marks at university Stress would be a low grade or two Hunger will be satiated with only the smell of coconut oil on crispy crispy ethakyappams

42

There is an angel in your home who will feed you, nurse you, without question, without relenting, God can’t yet match up to that angel Child rearing will first be taught to you

by Grimm your goldfish Companionship will be your pet pug Happiness will be your father’s congratulatory pat without which, no score no prize could be real Insecurities will first visit you as that fondling piano teacher Superheroes are your parents News will reach you daily, as snippets sounded from the school PA system at 7:25am Exercise will not feel like exercise, when you play unending rounds of girly kho-kho Peals and shrieks and breathless bouts of laughter, you will share with friends These will be friends you make for life

Twenty years from now, you will be a dinosaur, because generations will now only be a year apart You will understand the complexity of your body, and not understand why your gynecologist assumes you are not sexually active or even what that entails Ambition will slowly eat into you, but you will still not know what you want for yet another twenty Hunger will come to you, but so will taste of the cheese in the croquetas you had for tapas, and the mustard in the pachadi your mother-in-law made Human are your parents God will be in the children you volunteer

43

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

To you, I want to say You are bursting, bursting at the seams with the vigour, to swing freshly folded paper planes, the innocence to believe that kind stranger, who offered you treats for a leer, the hope that guesses the gift, while tearing away crackling shiny wrapping paper, the unending energy to paint, every last sunset with a myriad of blunt color pencils and paint palette sets The world will come to you in the form of dial-up internet Your period will come with pillows you need to slap on Expectations will be met in the pretext of cut-off marks at university Stress would be a low grade or two Hunger will be satiated with only the smell of coconut oil on crispy crispy ethakyappams There is an angel in your home who will feed you, nurse you, without question, without relenting, God can’t yet match up to that angel Child rearing will first be taught to you

by Grimm your goldfish Companionship will be your pet pug Happiness will be your father’s congratulatory pat without which, no score no prize could be real Insecurities will first visit you as that fondling piano teacher Superheroes are your parents News will reach you daily, as snippets sounded from the school PA system at 7:25am Exercise will not feel like exercise, when you play unending rounds of girly kho-kho Peals and shrieks and breathless bouts of laughter, you will share with friends These will be friends you make for life

44

Simple Embraces Harris Jamil Alam Khan

She puts her arms around me for the last But it’s not the same as the summer past Suddenly the place turns cold Broken; I leave the white summer faces I am left far from her fold With the memory of simple embraces I remember that train ride The wind whispered by Green and gold rushed As I crossed the rye Over waters still and deep And people and places But I could never run far From her simple embraces I could feel her arms around Covering and comforting

45

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

She puts her arms around me for the last But it’s not the same as the summer past

I stare in at the cold white snow And I remember her soft skin It burns in my hand slowly but From past burns she cannot win

Suddenly the place turns cold Broken; I leave the white summer faces I am left far from her fold With the memory of simple embraces

I see again in this silent winter The whistling wind slowly traces A face I know wants me back To the summer of simple embraces

I remember that train ride The wind whispered by Green and gold rushed As I crossed the rye

And now I am left with dreams And memory that slowly calls Visions and voices swept past In between the springs and falls

Over waters still and deep And people and places But I could never run far From her simple embraces I could feel her arms around Covering and comforting The warmth of her prayer Unfailing and forming

The seasons change and change The gold and the green greet But I burn from the same pain To remain as if incomplete Time keeps slipping by me And they say it surely effaces But I am still holding her In the summer of simple embraces

Words did never let go Though I traveled far from summer Whistles and voices a many Couldn’t drown her sweet murmur

I could see her face still Though I tried to forget her But she smiled and squeezed Teased all else into a blur

I crossed into summer less country To get away from known races But the railroads never turned cold The warmth of her simple embraces Someone asked me to return I had no answer for him I tried How could I tell him I left?

And only to myself I had lied

46

47

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

Hide in Plain Sight Rajat Ray

Ghosts chase me from the murky depths Of things undone, of promises unkept, Of opportunities spent, Of regrets and sighs I run From a sad memory to a happy one, Hiding behind her dress till she turns With a changed face.

Tired and ragged I lie While they dance upon my shadow.

Gods tempt me from their own horizons Of delights yet to come I watch With bated breath, anxious, A future game that I have been dragged into Without recourse Stumbling legless from the gods› shrill peddling.

Tired and ragged I lie While they dance upon my shadow.

48

I want to hide From the ghosts and the gods And their endless chase in the bylanes of my mind From the guilts and promises Their fists twisted in my hair.

The only place The only way I find Is to hide in the benevolent present.

Full, gapless, enfolding, like the blowing of a conch, Where nothing happens Except what is happening.

The event happening now.

The word spoken now.

The sound tingling now.

Which is just it and nothing more.

The razor’s edge and nothing more The beam of a torch and nothing more.

That’s the place to quietly hide.

In Plain Sight.

49

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

Library Lovers Ankita Sadarjoshi

The library bore witness to their rebellious romance, Dropping eaves on each conversation.

Its curtains clapped at each dainty dance, Its pages fluttered in ovation.

This boy and girl knew only each other And only each other did they adore, Until one fine day, the winds did change, And changed they forevermore.

Suddenly the library could not contain The wayward paths that each chose.

He grew reckless, she grew distant, Against each other they rallied remorse.

They suddenly could not bear to hear This hollow cave echoing their past.

The windows grew foggy and the lights grew cold; In the library, not much did last.

There was a boy and girl in a place of books Who fell in love and held hands ‘neath a table, She drowned in his eyes and he in her lies As they fashioned their fairytale fable.

The library cradled their labyrinthine love And love made they through rhythm and prose; Intoxicated by her whims, and she succumbing to him, One and only other they chose.

He strummed Shakespeare on the strings of her heart, She recited Frost to his frazzled soul.

He indulged her talks, her beauty, her art; To capture him completely was her goal.

They danced like madmen to a Whitman waltz, They floated like fairies through shelves of words.

They immersed themselves in their whimsical world And sung sonnets that only some heard.

50

For now, every book he seemed to touch Burst into vicious flames, And every poignant poem she brushed Shrieked in piercing pain.

They had come to change everything around them, Every crevice, corner and cupboard; But worst of all was that through it all They had also altered each other.

The library stood still in all-knowing silence As one lover turned to face the other.

His reign of rapture, all that she’d captured Seeped from their hearts onto the floor.

He examined her in horrific stupor, Wondering why her eyes no more twinkled With splendour and passion in that gleaming fashion And why all she was seemed wrinkled.

51

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

There was a boy and girl in a place of books Who fell in love and held hands ‘neath a table, She drowned in his eyes and he in her lies As they fashioned their fairytale fable.

Masquerade Sherin Susan Babu

The library cradled their labyrinthine love And love made they through rhythm and prose; Intoxicated by her whims, and she succumbing to him, One and only other they chose.

He strummed Shakespeare on the strings of her heart, She recited Frost to his frazzled soul.

He indulged her talks, her beauty, her art; To capture him completely was her goal.

They danced like madmen to a Whitman waltz, They floated like fairies through shelves of words.

They immersed themselves in their whimsical world And sung sonnets that only some heard.

The library bore witness to their rebellious romance, Dropping eaves on each conversation.

Its curtains clapped at each dainty dance, Its pages fluttered in ovation.

This boy and girl knew only each other And only each other did they adore, Until one fine day, the winds did change, And changed they forevermore.

I know what I said.

Please.

I’m good with words I choose them wisely consciously, precisely

They suddenly could not bear to hear This hollow cave echoing their past.

The windows grew foggy and the lights grew cold; In the library, not much did last.

I watched your face Watching mine for cues Your lips wondering which way to curl Your eyes Beautiful, by the way not that I’ll ever tell you that Looking into mine to decide to spark or spill

For now, every book he seemed to touch

I decide.

Suddenly the library could not contain The wayward paths that each chose.

He grew reckless, she grew distant, Against each other they rallied remorse.

52

53

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

People Always Leave

I know what I said.

Please.

I’m good with words I choose them wisely consciously, precisely

Ankita Sadarjoshi

I watched your face Watching mine for cues Your lips wondering which way to curl Your eyes Beautiful, by the way not that I’ll ever tell you that Looking into mine to decide to spark or spill I decide.

My eyes prettier than yours, hah lead you on I sneer.

Openly You think it part of the play

In the darkest winters of our lives, Sunlit people suddenly arrive And find us, know us, heal us, show us How, the storm, to survive.

We play out the masquerade timed, planned, scripted No missteps, glorious motions You, always one step behind You, always a second too slow The dub to my lub The pocus to my hocus The blink to my wink

Entering our lives, unassuming as rain, They help us drown our hollow pain In art and joy and music and laughter, In tales of happily-ever-after.

They advance upon our innocence, Indulge our naïveté, They spark wild fires in our hearts And pour passion into our days.

People think it perfect So well do they go together these long ago written pairs I whisper silent gratitude

They fill us up with hope and vision, Sharpen us with cold precision.

Give us something to believe in, Guide us to dream sans inhibition.

And you

54

55

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

Poem of the Earth

In the darkest winters of our lives, Sunlit people suddenly arrive And find us, know us, heal us, show us How, the storm, to survive.

Dhruv Ganjoo

Entering our lives, unassuming as rain, They help us drown our hollow pain In art and joy and music and laughter, In tales of happily-ever-after.

They advance upon our innocence, Indulge our naïveté, They spark wild fires in our hearts And pour passion into our days.

They fill us up with hope and vision, Sharpen us with cold precision.

Give us something to believe in, Guide us to dream sans inhibition.

I am the earth, and I have given life, but Today, I am about to lose mine.

Due to destruction, the callous nature of man, Whose greed has wreaked my every design.

I am the mother of man, I have held him, Watched him learn and grow.

He reached a point where my help wasn’t enough, So he thanked me with blow after blow.

He promised me that he would make things better, A new world, he would create.

His insatiable desires overpowered him, So that nature’s every law, he would begin to violate.

He told me that none would be homeless, as he cut my trees, Today, the poor are as pitiable as they were before.

This is after I granted him more than necessary, Made him happy after exhausting my every store.

Give me your water, and none shall go without it, he said.

Today, all my resources stand depleted.

Rivers and reservoirs lie vacant, while I fight alone, For a cause, long defeated.

“I will take your land, so that we live in prosperity,” Yet disparities, even today, continue to prevail.

A place where the poor fight and kill so that,

But what few of us ever know Is there comes a time for people to go.

Having inspired and freed our hearts, On their own wayward path, they start.

Having shown us purpose and pride, They sift away in a single stride.

And then, we wander, lost and betrayed Cradling our brokenness to sleep.

Love and spirits, burnt and frayed, Trust buried in oceans, deep.

We’ll never know if they meant to hurt us, Or if they simply had to teach Us how to blossom on our own And for the stars, reach.

Whether done in kind or cruel of heart Or in whichever way we perceive,

56

57

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

I am the earth, and I have given life, but Today, I am about to lose mine.

Due to destruction, the callous nature of man, Whose greed has wreaked my every design.

I am the mother of man, I have held him, Watched him learn and grow.

He reached a point where my help wasn’t enough, So he thanked me with blow after blow.

He promised me that he would make things better, A new world, he would create.

His insatiable desires overpowered him, So that nature’s every law, he would begin to violate.

He told me that none would be homeless, as he cut my trees, Today, the poor are as pitiable as they were before.

This is after I granted him more than necessary, Made him happy after exhausting my every store.

Give me your water, and none shall go without it, he said.

Today, all my resources stand depleted.

Rivers and reservoirs lie vacant, while I fight alone, For a cause, long defeated.

“I will take your land, so that we live in prosperity,” Yet disparities, even today, continue to prevail.

A place where the poor fight and kill so that, The most menial of things, they can avail.

“Let me build structure for the humankind, Where the benefits, you shall earn,” He said, and he gifted the world with weapons.

Due to which my body and heart, continue to burn.

He has reached where he does not ask anymore, He takes like he wishes, as per his desire.

He has become my biggest enemy, Gone is the doting child I used to admire.

Part of me is to blame, for it was I, Who encouraged his every wish and ambition.

It was me who taught him to dream, Me, who enhanced his every vision.

Whatever the cause may be, he has no guilt, Me, he wishes, more than ever to dethrone.

His crazy streak does not end there, Since everything in the world, he wishes to own.

He has pushed me on the back foot,

58

The Cocoon Gladwin George

Beneath the silk layers, I lie, in the coziness of the cocoonThe outer world beckons meGlancing through the translucent pane, a myriad of opportunities, to blossom, albeit, at a price.

The wands of power, dangling in air, stroking on the surface, luring me, in vain, as the shackles of chores and prudence follow suit, unfathomable for me to bear!

No ambition nor craving will ever kindle my veins, for beads of sweat should I thread, a futile call!!

To quench, a drop needed, to satiate, a crumb required, the misery and neglect around, I behold; but dare not tread into the open, to align with such woe entails the shedding off the warmth wrapped around!

To be sessile in a mobile world calls for genuine prowess, I proudly profess.

Others tattle it`s indolence sublimeto don eternity in chrysalis is all that I desire!

59

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

The Little Girl on the Stone Wall Shreya Shreeraman

Her fingers are numb, her teeth chattering But the little girl feels the cold no more For though the winds and waves have calmed Her Daddy still fights at the heart of the war.

She remembers those days when Mommy and Granny Came along with her, hoped along with her They’d dress up in pretty hopes and wistful smiles And weave dreams of tomorrow together

But days drifted into weeks and months, And Granny got older, Mommy busier.

They told her she mustn’t hope any more, Even as they hid an unhappy tear.

Peeping out from behind the inky clouds Orange tentacles nudge the hazy moon The little girl knows she must get back home now For Mommy and Granny will wake up soon

The cold stone wall chills her legs The wind whips her hair around Her shawl has slipped and fallen away And slowly, steadily, the rain begins to pound

She slides off the wall and starts to run Away, away from the golden light, But do not grieve, you lonely wall of stone For, holding a candle, she will be back tonight.

The little girl on the stone wall cares not, Her steely eyes fixed on the raging sea And as yet another night passes her by She wonders where her Daddy could possibly be She sneezes a little, shivers a little But she will not let a single teardrop fall For they tell her Daddy is a brave soldier And so is she, the little girl on the stone wall A hundred blown-out candles lie on the floor For a hundred nights has she spent on the wall The cold has befriended her, and so has the ocean And so has the nightbird’s ceaseless bawl

60

61

WINNERS AND HONORARY MENTIONS

WINNERS AND HONORARY MENTIONS

POEMS (15+ YEARS)

POEMS (10-15 YEARS)

Madhumathi M G The Desert River (1st Prize winner)

Veylenta Audrey Desouza I Just Want You To Let Me Be...

Maitrayee Singh The Toy Seller (3rd Prize winner)

Ananya Sanagavaram Breeze Of Quietness (Honorary Mention)

Aarya Anil The Ultimate Decision (1st Prize winner)

Shreya Shreeraman Hungry (2nd Prize winner)

Ankita Sadarjoshi Lullaby (3rd Prize winner)

Dhruv Ganjoo Poem Of The Earth (Honorary Mention)

Basith Mohamed Poemization The Man of Steel (Honorary Mention)

Gloria D Souza Broken Seashells (Honorary Mention)

Priya Modi A Prayer for the Dying (Honorary Mention)

Rahul Kumble Witches Brew (Honorary Mention)

Gladwin George The Cocoon (Honorary Mention)

Harris Jamil Alam Khan Simple Embraces (Honorary Mention)

Rajat Ray Hide in Plain Sight (Honorary Mention)

Sherin Susan Babu Masquerade (Honorary Mention)

Salin Jishon George The Friend Who Changed My Life (Honorary Mention)

(2nd Prize winner)

Sandra John Mars — The Ultimate Destination (Honorary Mention)

Toshali Sengupta Cherry Blossoms (Honorary Mention)

202

HONORABLE MENTIONS

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Veylenta Audrey Desouza Say No To Dowry

Ankita Sadarjoshi To Be A Good Liar

Veylenta Audrey Desouza A Woman Is Not A Coward

Ankita Sadarjoshi Library Lovers Ankita Sadarjoshi People Always Leave

Shilpa George

From Me To You

(Honorary Mention)

Shreya Shreeraman The Little Girl On The Stone Wall

203

At the award ceremony – 24 May 2014, Al Falaj Hotel.

SHORT STORIES

204 98

WINNERS AND HONORARY MENTIONS

12

GENERAL ESSAYS

148

ZUBAIR CORPORATION ADVERT

205

206