Shadows by Steven Alton
Photography
Monster by Aanchal Capoor
Poetry
There’s a monster right in front of me. Not the one which I feared.
Not the one who’s been in my closet. Or hiding with the dust under my bed. It’s the soul which once had a heart. The one who lurks in the dark
Even on the brightest days.
The one who has spent countless nights crying in the secluded corner.
The one I forget throughout the day
But only acknowledge when I’m alone.
The one who carried their heart around
No matter how many pieces it is in
Or how many times it had been stomped on.
The person staring back at me in the mirror is covered by what society expects. Behind the expensive makeup,
And the pearly white “smile”,
You can see the tired eyes,
The tear stained cheeks,
And the insecurity stamped all her face, That’s the real me.
The one I’m pretending to be
Is the real monster.
Not the one who’s been in my closet. Or hiding with the dust under my bed. It’s the soul which once had a heart. The one who lurks in the dark
Even on the brightest days.
The one who has spent countless nights crying in the secluded corner.
The one I forget throughout the day
But only acknowledge when I’m alone.
The one who carried their heart around
No matter how many pieces it is in
Or how many times it had been stomped on.
The person staring back at me in the mirror is covered by what society expects. Behind the expensive makeup,
And the pearly white “smile”,
You can see the tired eyes,
The tear stained cheeks,
And the insecurity stamped all her face, That’s the real me.
The one I’m pretending to be
Is the real monster.