SHAILAJA PANDEY
Age 13, St Mary's Convent, Nainital

---

To lose a friend like you
When you got little rude, you turned different,
Tried to show that our friendship was not even worth a single cent.
I was dazed, amazed and simply gazed,
A terrible pain occurred in me which lasted for many days.

I tried hard to make things sort out,
But you ignored me as if I was nowhere about.
I never understood why you where acting like this,
But I noticed that away from me you were finding bliss.]

The black had seemed to turn all black and dark,
To lose a friend like you and be apart.
I pass through great agony when I recall those moments,
When we were happy, together but to one again there is no way.

I found some companions but never got a friend like you,
Who I thought will always be with me, very true!

SHIVI JERMGAL
Age 13, Presentation Convent, Jammu & Kashmir

---

I'm Smothered
I am suffocating
And I just need to breathe
I'm smothered under pressure
I must be relieved.

Nothing I do is right,
Nothing they say is fair
I cry and scream and throw a fit,
But no one seems to care.

Nobody will listen,
To what I have to say
My life is not important,
Yet I'm living every day.

I can't do what I want
I cannnot stay out late
Here I sit and write this poem
To release my pain and hate.

I'm confused and I'm alone
I'm lost inside my mind.
No one will search beyond my looks
To see what they might find.

So many thoughts confuse me,
Feelings I can't perceive,
In this time of adolescence
And I just need to leave.

None of it makes sense
None of this seems real.
And no one understands
The emotions that I feel.

I'm still suffocating
And I still need to breathe.
I'm smothered under feelings
Let me be relieved.

SHWETA BHATIA
Age 14, St Charles High School, Mumbai

---

Blind
Your beauty intoxicates all you encounter,
Yet you fail to notice,
This is your blunder,

You've had a rough time,
Though now it is over,
But yet you continue clinging to what is left over,

And in doing this your depression grows deeper,
Pulling you apart at the seams,
Causing you to unravel and fall to you knees,
Pondering desperately: "How much worse can it be? "

To ease your mind of your terrible burden,
You bargain with Satan (as if he cares),
Giving you a release, in turn for your soul:
That you believe tarnished and not worth much at all,

When all of your friends have been with you till now,
But here comes the crossroads up ahead,
They give you a choice: "Stand tall or fall down."

You have your beauty and charm,
Your intelligence and grace,
Good friends and your health,
What more does it take for you?

SONAL LOBO
Age 20, Christ College, Bangalore

---

What shall I say?
Should I say I hate you for you left me
Alone in middle of life's journey
Or should I say I love you for you are the one
Who helped to begin my new journey
Should I say I hate you, for now you seek other's love
Or should I say I love you for you are the one
Who taught me to love
Should I say I hate you, for now you are in
Other's arms
Or should I say I love you, for once you
Lend me those arms to me
Should I say I hate you for now your eyes look
At someone else
Or should I say I love you, for once those
Eyes conveyed to me thoughts innumerable
Should I say I hate you for now you dream
About someone else
Or should I day I love you for once we
Dreamt together of a beautiful life ahead
Should I say I hate you for now you are
No longer mine
Or should I still say I love you
For once you were mine.

With you forever
In every walk of life I find you near
Though we have departed thoughts
Don cease flowing
The bright sun reminds me of the
Days we spent together
The stars reminds me of the twinkle
In our eyes when we first met.
The moon reminds me of those tough
Days when you were my only strength
The cool breeze reminds me of you
Touch so pure.
The tickle of water reminds me of the
The little fights we had
The laughter of children reminds me
Of our childhood days
The chirping of birds reminds me
Of the song you sung to me
Today I stand alone on the shore of
Life with huge heap of memories
Like sand no matter what comes ahead
But you will be my heart's companion
Now and forever.

I want to move on
There are times I have cried
There are times I have smiled
There are times I have tried
To tell you, that I love you
I looked at you and wished
You would look,
But then I realized you
Were looking at someone else.
Yes, I know both of us are to be blamed.
For never once in years we
Expressed what we really felt.
Time rolled in, You choosed the best
And you are happy with that
But I am all alone.
I want to be happy
My mind force s me to start
Afresh.
But heart is not prepared
No one sums to be able to take
Your place
Cause no one sums perfect as you.
No one sums gentle like you.
No smile sums so tender
No face attracts me
It was easy for you to forget
I am finding it tuff
May be for the last time in
This lifetime
You could do me a favour
And teach me in your own way
How to forget your love and
Move on