#NaPoWriMo- Poetry Writing Campaign

by Daastan | May 5, 2020 | Daastan, Literary Events, Literary Fellowship, Media, Pakistani Writers

The month of April is national poetry writing month (NaPoWriMo). Writers from all around the world join together to celebrate the art of poetry writing. We at Daastan took this opportunity to engage our followers in a poetry chain contest. Every day, we shared a prompt verse and asked our followers to continue the verse. The next person to comment would continue thereby making a chain of poetry as a combined effort.

Selected Poetry From #NaPoWriMo

We shared prompts, both in English and Urdu language on alternate days. This activity was thoroughly enjoyed by the participants. The talent and zeal showcased everyday was commendable. The standard of poetry was beyond our expectation, leaving us in a difficult position to choose the best ones. However, we selected 2 poems from English and 3 from Urdu to feature in our blog. The selected English poems are:

English Poem #1

This crimson house with its crimson walls

Set on fire with the love calls

Is this love or just another bloodied stain?

Etched with rivers while the calm moon gazes

And the night whispers softly, lyrical phrases

Though it was bygone – forgotten

The secrets it holds, remained unspoken

Hold a prisoner inside with dusky eyes.

& me with my poems

Engulfed by unheard echoing calls

English Poem #2

The city is alight, with hope it’s bright

The light of its sunrise, envelopes

the darkness and fills everyone with delight

Its air is rich in music and it’s

echoed with the sound of dancing feet

Go to your window and inhale this treat

The darkest hours will pass by,

with resilience you and I will fight

Similarly, response on our Urdu prompts was equally energetic and competitive. We chose the following 3 poems:

1 نظم / Urdu Poem #1

سرحد کے اس پار

جی چاہے اک بار میں جاؤں

جہاں زندگی ہماری طرح ہنستی تو کبھی روتی ہے

کچھ لوگوں سے شناسائی لگتی ہے

کچھ قصے پریت کے، کچھ وعدے من میت کے

جو اب بن کے رہ گئے کتاب کی کہانی میں

 وہاں جلترنگ ہواؤں کا ہے نگر

جو یادوں کی داستاں لیے

ہم جیسے انسانوں کی ایک بستی ہے جہاں ملتے ہیں زمیں و آسمان

نظم 2 / Urdu Poem # 2

میں نئی امید ہوں

جیون کی تمہید ہوں

فرحت بخش دید ہوں

اک سریلا گیت ہوں

ہوا میں بکھری بادِ نسیم ہوں

اور تم اس مین ایک استعارہ ہو

تاریک دنیا میں سحر کی دلیل  ہو!

قوسِ وقزح کے رنگوں سی

اک نئی صبح کی نوید ہو

نظم 3 / Urdu Poem # 3

میری سوچوں کی پرواز کہاں تک

پنپتے خوابوں کی آواز کہاں تک

ہے میرے خوابوں کی اڑان کہاں تک

ہے شاید

تیرے نغموں کى آواز جہاں تک نیلے آسماں سے دور کہیں

اونچا اڑتے ہیں  جہاں الفاظ میرے

مگر یہ بھی سچ ہے اس خاک کی اڑان کہاں تک

Honorary Mentions For Our Poetry Campaign

We have selected Mr Obien Mayo and Ms. Amna Shah as active participants and we acknowledge their contribution to our campaign. Their active participation speaks for the love for poetry and Literature that they possess. We thank all our participants for showing interest and contributing to our effort.

Are you excited for our next month’s campaign? Well, we surely are! We have another interesting theme to follow in the month of May. So follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages and Sign Up at Daastan to catch up on our monthly Literary activities!