July 22, 2023

Kakul Gupta (age 15)

HAIKU

 
 
teenage photos—
why i look
different all the time
 
 
 
 
lonely night—
watching him
through telescope
 
 
 
 
hatched egg—
the town no longer
uninhabited
 
 
 
 
new startup—
counting the commas
in statement
 
 

from 2023 Rattle Young Poets Anthology

__________

Why do you like to write poetry?

Kakul Gupta: “I like poetry because poems help me declutter the barrage of thoughts that envelop my consciousness through the day. Specifically, haiku, as it pivots on capturing the ephemeral moment of heightened awareness—the ‘aha’ moment as it is called—which is quite challenging as well. But whenever it happens, however rare it might be, it gives me immense pleasure. This is what propels me to write.”

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September 18, 2021

Kakul Gupta (age 13)

TEN HAIKU

 

metropolitan city—
each raga
smoke-laden

 

coin collection—
the clink
of grandma’s voice

 

away from home—
the crackle
of mother’s onions

 

virtual classroom—
now my friends
captured in squares

 

gas tragedy—
pale glow
of the sun

 

winter fog
… with each layer
a brewing argument

 

winter chill …
in search of bread
a roaming dog

 

sunrise
the old city
lights up

 

summer holidays—
mangoes
in my dreams

 

winter fog …
each tree
a ghost

from 2021 Rattle Young Poets Anthology

__________

Why do you like to write poetry?

Kakul Gupta: “I realised that poetry is my way to indulge with the world, and I am thankful to my brother for introducing me to it. I love haiku the most, because they are short and succinct. The best thing about a haiku is its juxtaposition: how you are in two worlds in just 3 lines and (less than) 17 syllables.”

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