Cover artwork by Omar al Jamani, age 13, Jordan
Written by Inaya Tapal, age 17, Pakistan

Slowly, They come to me, in my restless mind —
More than a thousand feelings intertwined.
An unseen, unheard, menacing laughter then brews,
Where every thought is a flame, and every silence a word.

The words hide truths that no one hears.
Am I the engineer of my misery?
Or a lost passenger,
Celebrating my “anniversary”?

In the shattered mirror, I glimpse my face,
where a mosaic of identities has found a wrong place.
Who am I beneath this facade?
Am I a riddle? Just one who merely nods?

Schemas and lines, as psychology calls it.
But in truth, a neuronal channel,
where the mind is imprisoned.
They hide the chaos, the silent wars,
and all the battles fought behind closed bars.

The cognitive distortions
are a carousel that orders old thoughts in a new way.
But self-awareness shatters that link,
Exploring growth amidst one mere blink.

As said:
Mental health is a delicate thread.
But hope is a lantern in the night,
and what carves the path to inner light.

Soon,
Within the chaos, I find my place.
Like a spirit unfettered by time or space.
Each emotion, a chapter, each thought, a verse,
In the library that is my internal universe.

Posted in celebration of National Poetry Month this April

When she wrote this poem, Inaya Tapal was a 17-year-old girl in her first year of A levels at Karachi Grammar School. She is an ardent reader and also enjoys playing sports, especially Netball. Inaya is a volunteer at the Parents Voice Association at Ujala, a rehabilitative institution created to cater to the needs of specially abled Children. She hopes to create more awareness surrounding these children in the future in her society.


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