Babylon: Manini Priyan Olikara

Photo Credit: Sunyu (@sunyu)/ Unsplash, Public Domain Dedication

Babylon

Manini Priyan Olikara

I used to live in a great country.

Founded on ideals of non-violence

A place with one of the oldest histories in the world

A place I was proud to call home

But this great country has fallen

A tinderbox of injustice and inequality

There is no “We”

But Hindu vs Non-Hindu

Migrant worker or work from home

Virus affected

Or not.

A nation that has lost its moral center

Tyrannical despots in power

Who throw matchsticks

To light the same fire

Lit by the previous invaders

I say a prayer

And try to summon my own strength

Hoping my prayer

Will crack open the heavens

And rain of justice pours down

To return Babylon to its former glory.

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Manini Priyan Olikara discovered her love for writing while she was pursuing her second Masters from King's College, London. She works as a corporate HR business partner during the day and spends her nights writing poetry, science fiction, and fantasy. Her poems have been published in literary magazines like Spillwords and Literary Yard. Her first poem anthology Isolocation was published in August this year.

Home: Chandini Tauklee

The Delhiwallah Poetry Collective is proud to introduce the Young Poets feature that publishes young poets including school and college students.

Photo Credit: Scott Webb (@scottwebb)/ Unsplash, Public Domain Dedication

Home

Chandini Tauklee

A home is a happy place,

Where you feel safe and sound

It’s a place where your heart belongs.

A home is a familiar noise of fights and toys,

It’s the warmth you feel of love and joy

That one will ever need.

A home is where your family is,

And that’s what it will ever mean.

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Chandini Tauklee is a funny, talkative, and overthinking teen. She loves her family and friends, dogs, and feels happy when she writes.

Daily Bento Box: Lavanya

Photo Credit: 丁亦然 (@yiranding)/ Unsplash, Public Domain Dedication

Waking up to the sounds of birds we haven't heard before. Falling asleep again. This time with a smile. Watching sparrows glide from one tree to another. Sipping tea from each other's cups. Wishing to sip tea from each other's cups. Walking to the bus stop. Looking at the squirrels. Apologizing to your regular dogs for not bringing any treats. Extending lunch hour to lunch hours once in a while. Running around from one office to another. Running from one person to another. Extending the peony of your heart to everyone. Wishing to catch the sunset on the drive back home. Watching the sunset on the drive back home. Arriving home to each others’ Did you drink enough water today? Swimming through it all, especially across opposite currents.

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Blessed with a name that has confused everyone they've met since childhood, including their very own self, Lavanya (he/they) isn't a writer, poet, illustrator, or human, and yet they keep trying to be everything, at least once. They like to find joy in the most mundane things, which somehow trickles down in the form of words. They can be reached out on Instagram at lavaurora.