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

Life has taught me many things.

Since my childhood, life seems to have no meaning.

Poverty stuck us really down.

We were not the many of that town.

As I go further ahead with life

Each day I was struggling to strife.

Every kid of my age seems so happy.

I consider myself to be born unlucky.

Giving up was almost in all my veins.

Drought experience even when there’s a rain.

Seven siblings we live together.

We do feel empty, and no one could figure.

Our sweety Mum is so busy.

To make us stay strong and healthy.

Our dad run away and left us just like that.

O our world was in chaos and was really shattered.

Many years we beg and cry for help.

Neighbours do laugh at us whenever we seek help.

Looking us down was their only thing.

Our only dream was to the best thing.

Sickness came and stroked us one by one.

Death with its sting even came to haunt.

God was the only assurance.

Though our prayers were not answered at a glance.

Faith do keep us to fly ahead.

Weak and fragile we always fight till death.

Yeah, our eldest won the victory.

And others thought it’s only a mystery.

We did our best to climb for success.

All of us we did our very best.

Though poverty lived on our way

We grow and live whenever we pray.

We all now thanking to God.

Who is the only one who has not forgot.

Sheltering us all from shamed and pained

He blessed us from time and again.

Now that I have been freed from the past.

Life has taught me to handle every task.

Love and understanding are on my veins.

To help the other who is still in pain.

O life! how beautiful you are

I will spread you name to near and far.

You once taught me as how to live.

And now it's my time on how to give.