Smitha Vishwanath

Published on by Susi Bocks
sarandy westfall – Unsplash

Grief and Me 

I feel grief in waves
Ebbing and flowing, looking
for the tiniest crack.

I construct a dam
Keeps me from the dark deluge.
I clamber away.

Photographs 

A time capsule – scroll,
Turn. And you are taken to the past.
Smiling faces gaze
Frozen for posterity
A casket of illusions

Ikigai 

Some
people,
altruistic
kind, love to see
you distressed. High on
empathy, it gives them
a chance to play the hero.
Makes them feel good; it distresses
them when you save yourself. It’s hard to
carry on without a sense of purpose.

Writing and Us

You said writing had
swallowed me. Would you, rather,
sorrow engulf me?

Had I cried to you,
you would have found me tiresome
Now I write and smile

And yet you complain
What is it you want from me?
Help me understand.

Grateful for the poetry

I had been comatose. You woke me up.
Only a stab in the heart
could have done it. Thank you!

Poetry oozed from the gash. I rejoiced.
But I cannot forgive you.
The scar – a reminder.

~~~

Smitha Vishwanath’s poetry has been published in several international e-zines. Her debut novel, Coming Home, published in March 2023, has received excellent reviews. She has been selected Author of the Month 2022, 2023, and 2024. Smitha was awarded the Reuel International Prize for poetry in 2023, and her novel was awarded the Certificate of Excellence by the Asian Literary Society in 2024. She was first featured here in 2020.

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19 thoughts on “Smitha Vishwanath”

        1. The cut 0ff is Dec 31st, however, if the 52 required submissions are sent in, I will close this cycle. Currently, I’ve received about 60% of what I need for next year’s features. So, you decide when it’s most appropriate to submit.

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