Perennial Poetry

Ladder of Growth I feel so courageous, I feel so confident, My love for myself is my strongest asset, I feel ready to tackle all of life’s blues. Things that seemed impossible,  Now seem possible with a click; I built my self-esteem from pebbles, To a magnificent roaring peak. Nothing ever came easy, For I’ve been tested to persist, Through thick and thin, To mold me into what I am today. Lessons about being easy on myself, Being loving and kind to others, Absorbing every little spark of goodness in life, I added all of these to my golden arsenal. Self-love and introspection, Trusting and surrendering, Brought me calm and peace, Which even the deepest of seas couldn’t possibly gift. I am growing in all the ways intended for me, I am grateful for every lesson as a blessing in disguise; I am immensely thankful for all that I’ve been bestowed with, Family, health, love, wisdom and peace. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Thoughts of My Ink I wonder if I can say Words with my ink pen— Thoughts of my nights and days, That begin and never end. I ponder questions in my mind, I wring out all my thoughts, For I find peace as I unwind My thoughts and worries from their knots. For even the simplest of complexities, Endless thoughts my anxious mind sends, While I ponder my dizzying perplexities, Wondering what it is that I can possibly mend. Writing my thoughts out, Is one of my ways of channelling My peace and clarity, without a doubt;  And also because I feel it is my profound calling. For me, writing is healing, As it makes me better understand myself, And helps me in my journey to becoming My most authentic self. So I channel my thoughts into words of wisdom; It is my unpaid personal therapy, It is my golden key to unparalleled freedom, Writing makes me innately fulfilled and happy. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

Beyond the Noise Why do I listen to the world’s noise When I can be who I am? When I can have my own voice Without anyone telling me who I am. Whose judgements am I afraid of? What scars am I trying to prevent? When magic is what I am made of, And I no longer want to pretend. Why should I look a certain way To please anybody else? When I want to live every day  For myself, and not for anybody else. Why can’t I sometimes show my emotions  In their purest and rawest forms? Why am I always compelled to take precautions  To follow some superfluous societal norms? Who is my controller but me? Who is someone else to say That I cannot be completely me And live in my own beautiful way? No one can tell me it’s inessential  To do something I am authentic at. I will always harness my fullest potential, For I am the best in who I am and I know that. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

  Embracing Change I tell myself it’s okay, I tell myself it’ll be alright, I try to quietly survive the day, Hoping I won’t cry again at night. Will the scary nights ever go away? Will my thoughts ever stop haunting me? They start with one and long they stay, Why are they still daunting me? I forget the days I was happy and free, When I fall back into the mental turmoil; Why do I feel so unlike me? Can I ever untangle out of this coil? I want to regain my peace, I want to obtain clarity, I want to feel again at ease, I want to fall back into my previous familiarity. But I do realise That change is the only thing constant, I hope my faith and patience will always suffice, To lead me to peace that is inherent. Maybe it’s okay to fall back sometimes, A thought or two of the past will always trigger; But I will come back to the present everytime, Because my life is wondrously and worthily bigger. -Jaanvi Veluguleti

The Figuring Out I’m constantly learning, How to get going, All by myself, Without anyone’s help. I’m trying to figure out, Sometimes alone and other times by crying out loud, What to do in a circumstance, When I’m unable to predict the consequence. I try to pick myself up constantly, Put on a smile genuinely, Wear my heart back on my sleeve, Even though I want to give up and leave. Though it might look flawless from the outside, Only I know how lost I feel on the inside. I’m not perfect, I heartfully swear, ’Cause of that, I’m perfectly well-aware. It is tough, getting back up, When I do not know when what can come up, To weigh me down and crush me to the ground, Challenging me to help myself, with no one around. This learning and unlearning is continuous, At times, I am pushed to act spontaneous. But from all the broken glass pieces, I rise up like a mirrorball with a million faces. I will continue to figure out, Enjoy the process and be proud. This is my journey after all, I am only...