Category: Poetry

(Rupa Rao holds an MBA and a Law degree.  After a corporate career, for two years she is engaged in literary pursuits. Her writings are featured in multiple poetry anthologies, magazines and online platforms. She juggles writing, reciting solo or moderating group poetry events, interviewing creative writers, poets, chefs, musicians etc. She enjoys a few online literary groups and shares her work with them. She is an avid nature walker, into regular yoga, and believes in constantly growing. She has curated, edited and co-authored Four poetry anthologies. This year her solo anthologies and other books should be coming out.)

We present her prize-winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest ~ ‘EMBLEM…‘ ~. 

☆ ~ ‘EMBLEM…’ ~ ☆

(Prize winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest. The prompt given was to start with the lines “This January”.)

☆

 This January chills innards seeps into bones

Sprinkling “freeze” via invisible divine drones

Arctic air dumps on pretty plains now dry zones

Unheard are home bound multiple mourns

* 

This January shall swear in few world leaders

Seeking ban on history, slavery, holocaust, for readers

Dictating how women may treat own body

Wanting tax cuts for richest with life gaudy

 *

This January- Land-grabs, global wars rage on

Usurping power with innocent human as pawn

Civilians, children, women pay the ultimate price

Deaf are powerful to commoner’s wrenching cries

 *

This January – wisps of peace-whispers whirl

Humming with silent–prayers vibrational swirl

Millions of wishes negate hate’s hurtful hurl

Release communities shrunk in embryonic curl

 *

This January, the cloistered chilling hearts thaw

Misdirected masses heal generational wounds raw

Voice of reason reigns amongst keepers of law

Wisdom, empathy, compassion turn magnetic draw

 *

This January will also be a blessed mixed bag

Some wins, few losses life shall pick to tag

Human resilience will fly high its courage flag

A prayerful Insignia of peace and bully’s brag.

☆

~ Ms. Rupa Rao

(Setaluri Padmavathi is a creative artist, poetess, and writer. She is a Postgraduate in English Literature with a B.Ed., has been in education for more than three decades, and held various positions like Principal, the Head of the Department of English, Academic Coordinator, and teacher. Her teaching methodologies were highly appreciated, and she won special respect among her colleagues and enlivened the environment of the workplace.

She is a bilingual writer and a poet whose stories, articles, and poetry have been published in reputed anthologies, magazines, and e-journals. She writes in Telugu and English. Her much-appreciated poems and stories have been winning the hearts of readers of all age groups. She was the editor of Your Space, Muse India.)

We present her prize-winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest ~ ‘This January…‘ ~. 

☆ ~ ‘This January…’ ~ ☆

(Prize winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest. The prompt given was to start with the lines “This January”.)

☆

This January opened a new page

Where I add a new wise visionary 

Who befriended me with an open heart

And filled my way with many hopes!

 *

The moment I open my eyelids 

Greenery warms my serene soul

The sunrays bring brightness,

A new day spreads wings ahead!

 *

It connects me with an old friend

Who pours down her feelings 

Being a keen and quiet listener, 

I lend my ears to her broken heart!

 *

Travelling an unknown pathway, 

fills my mind with new thoughts 

I change my changed challenges,

And begin my new story to tell…

 *

A new Parker pen amidst fingers 

Gleefully dance with a purpose

I ink new ideas on paper again

Giving the poem a catchy title!

 *

A new day, a new friend and a new view

Bring newness in my life

Awakening spirits every dawn,

My heart jumps with joy!

 *

The beginning of the new year 

Brings numerous dreams and goals

This January opened a new leaf,

Where I can paint my picture once again!

☆

~ Ms. Setaluri Padmavathi

(Roopam Chadha is an award-winning bilingual poet. She is a graduate in Economics (hons) from Delhi University. She has authored two books of English poetry. She received an award for her debut anthology ’And the Canaries Sing On’ from ‘Autism for Help Village Project Trust” (2021). She has also won the best English collection award for her second anthology ‘Blushing Candles’ from The Literary Warrior Group at Sahitya Akademi New Delhi (2023) Her poems share space in several national and international anthologies. Besides writing she also pursues her passion for painting.)

We present her prize-winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest ~ ‘This January…‘ ~. 

☆ ~ ‘This January…’ ~ ☆

(Prize winning entry in the Literary Warriors Group Contest. The prompt given was to start with the lines “This January”.)

☆

This January, let the frost of hatred thaw

May there be no more bloodshed or war

No more widows or orphans to be born of vengeance

And no more martyrs brought home in decorated coffins

This January, let there be no more shadows of deceit

Lurking in the dark corners of lust

May every girl or woman hold her grace, honour and trust

May there be no more Nirbhaya, ever a repeat

This January, let the golden fields of corn sway

In bountiful, for the starved where hunger lay

May there be rain of happiness for all

And the rainbow of hope spread peace

Across horizons, crossing barriers of religion and creed

☆

(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.)

We present his awesome poem ~ ‘Vivekananda’s Teachings…‘ ~We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji, who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages for sharing this classic poem.  

☆ ~ ‘Vivekananda’s Teachings…’ ~ ☆

☆

O ‘ Mankind! Arise, awake to claim your right

To get the inner peace, and  bright divine light

Break free from worldly fear, and ignorance too

And, let the knowledge and humility guide you

 *

Be strong, be fearless, and conquer  your mind

Let divine writ rule, and may your heart be kind

Be in  service  to  all, as you find your own bliss

And with selflessness, you’ll never fall in abyss

 *

May  his  words  inspire,  and  ignite your soul

May  love  and  light, make your  heart  whole

May  you  shine  bright,  with  peaceful  solace

And, may your soul, find its most sacred place

☆

(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.)

We present his awesome poem ~ ‘Whispers of the Universe…‘ ~We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji, who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages for sharing this classic poem.  

☆ ~ ‘Whispers of the Universe…’ ~ ☆

☆

 I am  known to be  the  sky, and  the earth below,

Yet,  you consider Me just a  fleeting earthy show

* 

Strange  seekers wander around,  in  search  of Me,

Looking where I’m not, yet I’m here, can’t you see?

 *

You gazed into the mirror, but turned away dismayed,

Until I whispered, “You’re beautiful, in every shade..”

 *

In every particle, every wave and sound, I only reside,

In every  moment, I only  abide,  scattered,  yet I  hide…

 *

Unseen, yet existing, in this vast universe’s infinite sway,

You’re the book inscribed with My name, every single day

 *

With just a wave of My  hand, stars  appear and  fade,

My endless fame manifests, in every moment I’ve made

 *

In millions of hues, I’m the universe, vibrant and alive,

Don’t seek Me  in  connotations, I’m  right here to thrive

 *

In this moment, I’m with you; reborn, reincarnated anew,

Discover me, dear seeker, and the truth shall shine through

☆

☆ ✍️Think wider…💕 ☆ Ms. Aparna Paranjape ☆

☆

Sweet sweeter sweetest

Feeling cutest..

Why it’s cute?

As i think it as cute..

Why it’s sweet ?

As I feel it’s sweet..

Why I appreciate?

As it’s sending love..

Why it’s sending love

As itself is love 💕

Sweetness, cuteness and love

Are the parameters of love , (isnt it?)

Why to follow the opposite?

Which offers the attributes opposite

“Love” is the answer of all

As I am the produce of love at last..

Thinking outside the box

Only can give feeling out of the box

Go for it

To be unlimited Love 💞

☆

(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.)

We present his awesome poem ~ ‘The Company We Keep…‘ ~We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji, who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages for sharing this classic poem.  

☆ ~ ‘The Company We Keep…’ ~ ☆

☆

Let good company guide us

on life’s fearsome ways,

While the evil thoughts lurk,

many a night and days…

* 

Our friends are our noble

thoughts that keep shining,

Yet, sinister thoughts are the

enemies, always inflicting

 *

Sanctified virtuous thoughts

transform our weary lives,

Defining the ideals that go

beyond the endless skies

 *

The mind is a huge bundle of

thoughts, —wicked or fine,

Gives birth to many yields

a harvest of satanic or divine

 *

Turn your mind wholly towards God,

Let His love shine as effulgent light

Let the goal of the life, be purified

through the devotion’s might..!

☆

(Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi—an ex Naval Officer, possesses a multifaceted personality. He served as Senior Advisor in prestigious Supercomputer organisation C-DAC, Pune. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad was involved in various Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing projects of national and international repute. He has got a long experience in the field of ‘Natural Language Processing’, especially, in the domain of Machine Translation. He has taken the mantle of translating the timeless beauties of Indian literature upon himself so that it reaches across the globe. He has also undertaken translation work for Shri Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, which was highly appreciated by him. He is also a member of ‘Bombay Film Writer Association’.)

We present his awesome poem ~ ‘Ephemeral Whispers…‘ ~We extend our heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji, who is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages for sharing this classic poem.  

☆ ~ ‘Ephemeral Whispers…’ ~ ☆

☆

 In life’s ephemeral whispers, ignite

the flame of God’s embracing grace,

A cosmic spark reverberates; proclaiming

‘You’re divine, in sacred, infinite space.’

* 

Surrender your vain and ego’s veil,

at the wisdom’s resplendent throne,

Let river of devotion flow within

Let love be your soul’s sweet tone

 *

In God’s unwavering presence, find the

solace on peaceful, shimmering shores,

With God, as your constant companion,

guiding you to life’s tranquil, mystic cores

 *

Nurture virtues’ garden, where peace,

harmony, truth, and love entwine,

And harvest wisdom’s fruits, that your

soul’s deepest, the divine joy may shine

 *

Embodied essence, blooming like a lotus

in God’s boundless, effulgent domain,

Radiate your true nature’s splendour in

every thought & act, where desires reign

☆