Of human thought or form, where art thou gone? Why dost thou pass away and leave our state...
Poems forever
By Percy Shelley
Spirit of BEAUTY, that dost consecrate
With thine own hues all thou dost shine upon
Of human thought or form, where art thou gone?
Why dost thou pass away and leave our state,
This dim vast vale of tears, vacant and desolate?
Ask why the sunlight not for ever
Weaves rainbows o’er yon mountain-river,
Why aught should fail and fade that once is shown,
Why fear and dream and death and birth
Cast on the daylight of this earth
Such gloom, why man has such a scope
For love and hate, despondency and hope?
By Asma Akbar Ladak
O child! Break free,
Break free of those who make you agree,
Agree by force,
Agree without remorse.
They paint you blue and black,
Cutting you no slack,
Wanting you to submit,
Wanting you to commit.
Commit to a life of pins and needles, of fire and ashes,
Of tolerating men ever confusing love with clashes.
Clashes that break you from outside and within,
But feed the ego of the attacker’s linchpin.
O child! You do not realise,
These are monsters in an angel’s disguise.
These people are close, yet so far,
Constantly attempting to char your future.
Beware! These wolves will try to kill you,
They are deaf to your screams,
They ignite sleepless dreams.
They will shout, they will hit, they will torture,
You surprise me, O fragile mentis,
How do you deal with men, oh so cruel?
Do you not break, do you not shatter?
O child! Fight back,
Fight back with all you have,
Fight outside and inside,
Fight for your pride.
Fight for your rights — fight, do not hide.
It’s okay to confide,
Confide in a guide.
’Tis not an easy ride,
Perhaps worse than a recurrent landslide.
Be strong,
Struggle till you prove them wrong.
O mentis, what is this stigma — a disaster?
Why have you been orphaned by your master?
What have you not done right?
What has this society done wrong?
It disgusts me, like a resonating gong.
Break free, this time, from this society,
Are we for society, or society for us?
By Mashaal Farid
Here she is, right here
At the corner of the street, selling beans,
That smile so genuine to allure the folk.
She lifts her head
In awe of that glamour,
Staring at the epitome of beauty,
Dreaming to be on the poster.
There she is, right there,
Posing perfect in the limelight,
A smirk so fake, plastered for the crowd,
Still carrying the grace in catwalk.
Hourglass figure on stilettoes,
Her makeup smudges as exhaustion grows,
Putting back her head, she longs for the austere.
By Esha Bakht
There were many ups and downs in life,
And tears would often fill my eyes.
There were many storms I had to face,
But I managed to survive.
It was easy when there were no turmoils,
And my days were filled with smiles.
I reminded myself in hard times,
I have travelled miles and miles.
From now on I will not weep at pain,
I will bid farewell to sadness, and wave it all away.
