The following poem by Shristi Sainani from Ahmedabad was selected as a commendable mention in Wingword Poetry Prize 2020
I did try and say hello
Outside the butchers shop,
Where they also sold in bulk
Marigolds strung to beetle leaves.
You seemed to be distracted,
Perhaps looking at the dusky shepherd
Herding cattle on the right,
Magenta saree shop on the east,
From the incense scent
Or the vermillion ruins of chewing
You stepped in.
I did try and say hello
But the traffic was too loud
The buses sped fast
Crows called above.
My hands, tied with heavy jute bags.
There was muck on the streets.
I did try and say hello,
But it vanished
In between.