what is love i wonder
what is love i wonder
is it the fluttering in my stomach
when i read your pretty words
or the tears that brim
at the thought of you leaving
maybe it's the curses,
they promptly flow
when anyone
belittles you
no,
it must be
the fact that I would
take a bullet for you
unthinking, resolved
yes,
that must be it
four letters can’t
possibly describe it
yet
they seem to.
LOVE,
that’s what they call it.
The Siren's Call
The sirens lulled me in
I moved closer to the sea
A quiet dreamy state
Slowly enveloping me.
My heart and soul
Were long lost
To the siren
Promising me love.
A better place she promised
A nicer place to be
A world so kind
An alternate reality.
I asked myself
Could she be trusted
As she stood there
Weaving another fantasy.
Then I laughed so dry
It hurt my soul
Who was I to judge?
She was telling me to stay
In a world of letting go.
Previously published in The Trouvaille Review
Ananya Thakur (she/her) is a high school student from the Middle East. She recently picked up writing as a form of self-expression in a time of uncertainty and fear. She hopes that writing as a hobby would stay with her forever.