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

We talked less

Or maybe you didn’t want a mess

I sat beside you

When I thought you should’ve coz it was long overdue

Was it your mood swing

Was it you just being indifferent

Only when I thought It was okay

There it is backfiring right at me

My efforts are never enough

Thinking about it makes my day rough

Seems like you’re happier with others

Or maybe for you nothing matters

We talked less!

Because there was stress

Stress that smirked

Like it won every time we were irked