Wicked

Something watches my soul
Something lingers in the cold
Something curls up in the corners
And peeks from between the folds

Everything heckles my haunts
Everything jostles my jaunts
Everything casts a shadow
That cackles, and croons, and taunts

Nothing remains untouched
Nothing changes all that much
Nothing even prickles the silence
That sutures a bygone grudge

⁃ Akanksha Gupta

Deception


It’s never gleamed tears of sweet delight
Mess of scars beneath my dreams
Twilight draws curtains close
Darkness sweeps in at the seams

Mere memory of your canny smile
Chokes and charms the cheeks of time
Pink blush splutters graciously
Gold flecks more and more my eyes

My sanity spirals in and out
Churning oceans deep and wide
Yet tethered to my many blues
I feel no dread pull at the tide



- Akanksha Gupta