THE FOLLOWING POEM BY ANURIMA MUKHERJEE WON FIRST Prize IN Wingword Poetry Prize 2019’s Junior Category

Illustration created for Wingword Poetry Prize by Vaishnavi Dubal

In the morning, a slight touch of sunlight,

Pours down my shoulders.

The white color disperses into seven colors,

Draping me in the enchantments of daylight.

It's afternoon.

The cacophony of rickshaws and tram echo in my ears.

Faded, a part of me is still in the past.

But here, the world is so easy going and fast

And the people, they exchange kisses and cheers.

Evening descends down.

I look at the watch. 6 pm.

I look around, speechless.

My soul becomes lively by

looking at the sun going back to paradise.

And I plug in my head phones, playing Queen, I frown-

On my own while I look at the sky.

At night, the street lights

and the yellow taxis cover up the streets.

I walk down Shakespeare Sarani on my own flow.

The old houses.

They remind me of old times,

and here I am now.

Shedding tears, reminiscing those old days of

happy times and treats.

I left this place, long back and as they say,

"The past keeps haunting you"

The memory of Calcutta strengths my broken soul –

I wish when I die, put shiuli flowers

on my grave.

So that, everytime I feel lonely,

I will dream of my childhood,

Through the streets of Calcutta.

ANURIMA MUKHERJEE

I am a student who is going to be in class 9, in a school in Asansol, a town in West Bengal. Writing poetry has always been that subtle pleasure to my heart that is inexpressible.

Winning the first prize in Wingword Poetry Competition 2019’s Junior Category has given me a bigger platform to express myself more. Now I can learn my ways to bring about the best of my creativity, under the guidance of a renowned panel of judges.