THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.

Prelude

‘Don't take things too seriously', They say

And what if it still haunts you?

bury it alive, the one

that consumed your waking days,

All that you can do.

And lend it a burial.

Ceremonial and ritualistic.

POV: Let's talk about pathological reminiscences and living with ghosts.

When you become strange to yourself,

the 'stranger' in you will slowly awake.

Then your entire life will become a waking nightmare.

There are moments,

when you bleed inside-out

not knowing, when will the last drop of blood

ooze out and drain.

These are those scars,

that will remain forever.

And incurable with time.

Still, like a thorn, it will cause you to bleed.

Then you will build a coffin

and after reciting the ceremonial prayers,

Will close and seal it.

And will bury in the depths of the sea.

Because you know, if you open it again,

you have to live with that haunting body again.

Now you know, you will start to live with ghosts

arisen from the buried body.

Because you have buried it alive.

And now, cursed to live with ghosts.

Epilogue

I know, writing will save one from one's heart wreckage,

and it's safe to bleed in the paper than alone!