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Darkness in me
To all those with darkness in them,
I emerge from the shadows of my black soul to greet you! I mean, how could I not? A chance to witness the poetic prowess of these terrific writers is not one I will miss! The submissions we received for this anthology were positively brimming with darkness. Through your works, we uncovered glimpses of profound truths and heartfelt emotions. Your poems explored themes of battling with mental illness, losing your identity, and the absolute absence of the existential dread of realising you gave your boss COVID. In those moments, you touched our souls and reminded us that even in the darkest times, there is poetry waiting to be born. Thank you for sharing your inner demons and twisted tales with us. While it takes immense courage to share your darkest thoughts, it takes even more courage to go on the journey of unravelling these thoughts and understanding where they are coming from and what they mean. Our bright and dark parts co-exist, and it is only natural to be scared and stray from the darker corners of our minds. To all of you who are lurking at the borders of your darkness, prodding at it, or finally confronting it, we are incredibly proud of you! We commend your bravery and wish you the best of luck in acquainting yourself with your darkness. What better way to understand the darkness within us than through poetry? The time has come that I must fade into darkness. Continue learning about yourself through the art of writing, embrace the absence of light, indulge in the darkness within you, and create magic. Until next time.
Your judge and editor,
Hamsini Mangalampalli
The Crown of Shadows has chosen its worthy wearer! The blackest soul of the Darkness in me Poetry Contest 2023 is…