Poetry: Anika Padha

Anika Padha

[1]

In the fleeting dance of days, we met, 

A surprising spark, a quiet bet. 

Your presence painted my world anew, 

Yet I tried to hold my heart from you.

Gentle words and warm soul, 

I masked the warmth upon my face trying to keep control. 

Each moment together, I kept my ground, 

A fortress built where love was not to be found.

The hours flew, like whispers lost, 

A fleeting touch, a heavy cost. 

Your presence like a setting sun, 

Soon to fade, as shadows run.

Keeping feelings still, 

Guarding the heart, against the thrill

Yet as you turned, with each step away,  

I felt the pull of time and space wishing you would stay.

Your leaving now, a truth so near, 

Stirs feelings deep, one’s you will never hear.

For in your gaze, I experienced something so raw, so pure,

An unprecedented allure.

So as you go, with twilight’s hue,

A departure of which I knew

Time’s cruel hand, it slips away, 

Leaving echos of what I wished to say

        ************************

[2]

 My voice is not loud enough, 

So I let the words I write speak bold and clear, 

Across the pages, tear stained with ink and thought, 

Let them echo, resonate, and steer.

If ears are closed to my spoken pleas,

I pray my sentences unfold my tale, 

With every line and every verse, 

I write for understanding to prevail.

For words have power to reach the soul, 

To bridge the gap where my voice has failed, 

In prose or verse, they find their way, 

To touch hearts, after my truth is unveiled.

So if my voice is not loud enough, 

Let my writing be the voice that's heard, 

To convey the depth of all I feel, 

In every phrase, in every word.

***

Self-Statement: Hello! I’m currently a senior at New York University studying Social Sustainability & Resiliency, trying to understand how to make the world more equitable, equal and just for all through the subjects of policy, green/urban design, and sustainable business.

My poems serve as a reflection of my identity, and for further personal reflection of my subconscious. 

Living in the dynamic city of New York City has exposed me to a rich variety of artistic voices, fueling my passion for writing and activism. My work often reflects my journey through pain, seeking to provide solace for others but also to challenge people in the way that they think themselves. Driven by a strong interest in activism, I use my poetry as a means of protest against systemic and patriarchal issues, many of which I have faced. Through my words, I hope my writing is the voice that is heard.

-Anika Padha (Maryland, USA)

---

Setu, August 2024