THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.
Aren't we all kids anyway?
Sometimes we act like we're grown up
Pretend to understand things
Turning major, doing drugs
We try to act cool .
But at the end of the party
with a glass of beer
Sitting on the sofa,
Have you ever felt it deep down
Does it make your heart inflate
Does this thought break your ribs...
Aren't we kids anyway?
We pretend to be strong and wise
We shower people with solutions for pain
We sometimes start to advise
While we ourselves are trying to not go insane
When you lie on your bed
And your room is dark
Thoughts running through your head
Heart beating fast
When all the grown up feeling fades
Do you hear a whisper,
Aren't we kids anyway?
Running behind an icecream van
Shouting in front of a pedestal fan
Still watching age old cartoon
Still laughing for silly jokes
Longing for amma's hug
Missing appa's guidance
Running into a stranger's arms
Trying to feel loved one more time..
Tell me, aren't we kids anyway?