His hand quivered on the trigger And the other stared blankly They say the first time Is the hardest And he couldn’t help it As a million questions burned at him Ones he couldn’t answer And the world erupted In flames around him Setting the canons, drawing the grenade ring, pulling the trigger, those were no problem. In practice. He showed promise in training. So, when he was sent to the field, the encampment, he had been proud to serve his country for the first time. But standing here on the battlefield, while his comrades fired aimlessly, he couldn’t pull […]
Opal
As I turn the stones between my hands, Sunlight gleams and breaks across its surface Blue of the sea Green of the evergreen forest Purple of the setting sky White of the clouds Blending and bleeding into each color Within the cage of the stone Shifting as the sun beams from the sky Strung around my neck. The necklace I wore was priceless. Precious opals were strung together around my neck, stones that caught the light and reflected in white light. My pockets lighter with the cool weight against my neck, I remembered the weary jeweler who patiently explained the […]
Under the Staircase
The manor was quiet, and the candles burned softly, casting shadows over the marble staircase. Every creak, every whistle added to the unmistakable sinister feeling of the night. The silence was uncanny, and the moon shone through the windows in crescent slivers. Her heart was in her throat and her palms were damp, so she wiped them on the billowing fabric of her dress, just as her mother had commanded her not to. The wind swept through the house, blowing her careful curls over her powdered face. She finally reached the staircase and hurried up the steps, before crouching down […]
Screen
Perfect letters, line after lineGlazing over the words, foreign and farThe minutes that slowly pass seem unendingThe monotony a prison, inescapableThe days mirroring each other as they stretch into monthsThe green light flickering at the laptopMy eyes gently flickering shut, struggling to stare and listen to the droneTurning into noise and changing screens, morphing into something suffocatingA stressful confinement, swelling and nagging until its fragileBecause the slightest provocation could make it all apartSo it doesBreaking and splintering, whirring and groaningHand pull out hair, ripping out earphonesBlaring bright white light, flashingUntil the screen is slammed downHurried breaths lay downStare up at […]
Late
The lightbulbs above Camari’s head flickered with a pale yellow light. The library was deathly quiet, even for a library. The grandfather clock chimed softly, the twelve chimes reflecting the late hour. Everyone had left a long while ago, and the librarian had kept the lights on for Camari so she could finish her project. She smiled at the elderly lady with her steel-rimmed glasses and flowered dress that flounced as she dusted the books. Camari focused on her blaring laptop screen, as the words blared together. AP History was not her best subject decision, and this was not the […]
Willows
The little house shook as the wind hurtled through it. The cracks in the logs in the side of the house let in cold drafts that forced Ana to pull the covers further up. She could hear howling, unsure of whether it was the gales or the wolves outside. Her thick blanket still left her shivering, and the heavy rain on the window and roof kept her wide awake. She crept out of bed and grabbed her wool sweater to wear over her nightgown. She tip-toed across the wood planks, creaking under her weight. Everyone was surprisingly asleep and the […]
Look and See
“Look!” they whisper “Can’t you see?”She cannotShe sees everyday life, normal lifeShe sees trees that sway in the breezeShe sees paved roads and grass growing in sidewalk cracksShe sees brick walls and slate roofsShe sees birds in their nests, she sees dogs with ownersShe shakes her head “Closer” they whisper “You must see deep”But she now notices what’s differentShe sees pained expressions as they limp down the streetShe she leaves falling off of dying branchesShe sees children trip over the sidewalkShe sees plaster that cracks and flakes awaySlabs of roof that slide and clink with rattling windShe sees birds scream […]
Morning Gaze – A collection of my stories
Click here to buy “Morning Gaze – Collection of Short Stories” “Morning Gaze ” is a short collection of some of my favorite short stories that I’ve written over over the last few years. The stories vary immensely and are of different genres including fantasy, mystery, and science fiction, and with many plot twists. All of them have been inspired by real life. They portray the world from different points of view and perspectives, making it perfect for all ages. You can buy it on Amazon, and feel free to leave a review! Here is one excerpt from my book. […]
The Other Road
One step, two steps, on the straight road.Past the forest, who dancedPast the ocean, who bubbledPast the fields, who rustledOne step, two steps, on the straight roadTo something mysteriousTo something unknownTo something different than beforeOne step, two steps, on the straight roadUntil it breaksUntil it is no longer straightUntil the road is twoOne step, two steps, on the straight roadWondering where to turnWondering where to goWondering where I’ll beOne step, two steps, on the straight roadIgnoring the other pathIgnoring the chilled whispersIgnoring the darkness creeping inStopping, stopping on the straight roadRunning away from the endRunning on the shifting stonesRunning to […]
The Gardener
When the clock struck 12And the noon sun glimmeredThe creaky gate would openAnd I would see a manOld and witheredHunched and smallWho fiddled with the lock on the doorWith his head held down, he would give my the keyThen he picked up the hoseAnd one by oneCarefullyHe drenched the gardenTill the leaves shone in the lightAnd the petals so delicateShook with beads of water.He tended to the weedsRipping and tearingUntil the garden grew crisp and free.Then he raked all the leavesAnd pushed all the soil.He turned to meSo I nodded and smiledAnd the gardener leftWhen the clock struck 1.
buy my book
Buy my book “When Thoughts Sing” – by Shristuti Srirapu. It is a collection of my poems, written for all ages. Read the preview and leave a review or a rating.
