Everything went so bad so fast
And all I wanted was not to let that feeling last
And last it did
Beyond immeasurable hours
Or atleast it felt that way
That the whole world around me was tumbling down
Like I’m just a face with a frown, who’s waiting for my feelings to drown
Eyes swollen, heart heavy
Here we go again
Let’s make the car go revvy
everyone around you is making plans
all you want
is to get away
run away from it all
because being around people
makes you feel
like you’re under a perilous scan
you apologize, to escape from the plan
because they just wouldn’t understand
what it feels like inside your head
like misery galore, I think
you give these excuses so lame
that they got no option, but to look at you with pity and shame
you know that everyone wants what’s best for you
but no one sees, how it really feels
to be thrown everyday into the unknown
and how it just never heals
you don’t want to trouble anyone
by explaining, what you are having to endure
because each has their own struggles
on such a spree, that makes them unsure
© Lishaka Gulati
from that day to this
the girl has been dealing with an emptiness inside
the occasional mood swings, frequent crying
and those other things alike
the kid finally opened up to her family
told them of her suffering and the agony
she also informed them of the chest pains
that had started troubling her lately
the family supported the kid
and assisted her in getting the treatment
that was requisite for her, even though a little inconvenient
now the kid has been diagnosed
with anxiety and depression
so suddenly the kid has a word
that is within her comprehension
© Lishaka Gulati
P.S. this piece was written a few months back
there once was a kid so lost
that she didn’t know what to do from one step to the next, no matter what the cost
don’t get me wrong, the kid had a wonderful family, who tried to motivate her at every step of the way
still, the kid felt lost and sad, inside her little heart but she didn’t want to bother anyone and seem apart
the kid wondered how to make sense of it all,
and in so, the kid started doing all those activities notoriously possible at school
eventually, getting the title of the coolest kid in class
but the kid still felt empty and in contrast
she then focused on her academics
and scored the best grades, inspite of her insides
being at times, in hysterics
she made her parents proud
but it still didn’t fill the kid’s hollow heart that stood unbowed
To be contd…
© Lishaka Gulati
P.S. this piece was written a few months back
captive, caged, chained
elephants, expected to entertain
not just elephants
there are animals, many
who are engaged for human entertainment
at the cost, of their grave endangerment
clicking a selfie
with the caged animals
do you think that’s cute
were you not made aware
of their horrific abuse
from elephants to tigers
pangolins to turtles
all classified as species, endangered
illegal trade, illicit trafficking
for personal, profitable gains
all leading to these species, pained
© Lishaka Gulati
The above poem is written in support of the global campaign initiated by the NGO, World Animal Protection, India to gain support worldwide for banning the trade of wild animals.
look at you
you can’t handle the sadness anymore
just lying there like a corpse on the floor
you keep unraveling and there’s no one to speak to
you keep losing it and there’s nowhere to flee to
no one is there to hear your cries
no parent, no therapist, is understanding the agony that is your life
you want to give up on every step of the way
it hurts you so much and it’s not getting any better
being constantly bound by these fetters
all you want is for the misery to go away
that even giving up seems so easy today
here you are
trying to find your strength in God
to get over this misery, that you yourself caused
look at you
you can’t handle the sadness anymore
just lying there like a corpse on the floor
© Lishaka Gulati
Poetry by Lishaka 