The UNSPOKEN

It was such a foreign concept 

For me

Everyone always thinking 

Talking 

About their future

But when I’d look

Nothing

All blank

The future wasn’t for me

I was meant 

For the present 

For the now

To live only in the moment

But somehow

Something has changed 

Within me

Because of you

Now that you’re here

Everything is so clear

So bright

The future isn’t a question

It’s not a maybe 

Or a possibility 

It’s not something I fear for

Now

It’s something I crave

I hope for 

I need

I want to grow up

I want to live life 

I want to see the world 

And I want to do it with you

My love 

You were the light in the dark

I didn’t know

I needed

breaking brown

by Anonymous

Being brown means you're expected to be smart,

But if that's the qualification, I guess I didn't get the part.

Being brown means you have a future set out for you,

Lawyer, doctor, or STEM, that's just a few.

Being brown means they say do what you love,

But it simply means love to not love.

Being brown means, “Aren’t you IT tech support?”

Yet beneath this facade, dreams soar and transport.

Being brown means your parents traveled a trial by fire,

A trial by fire for the opportunities you have so you can reign higher.

If this is what it means to be brown, it's time to break the stereotypes,

And stop living life for the aunty’s likes.

If this is what it means to be brown, we must redefine the norms,

By priding ourselves on our culture and heritage, where our diversity transforms.

If this is what it means to be brown, we must pave paths anew,

By rewriting the story of what is true.

an overfilled cup of love

by Iniya Shanmugasundaram

Whenever my mind drifts to that forbidden night as the restless breeze cuts the distance between us 

my heart always replays your tearful eyes drifting away from me while desperately I call out your name as I try to reach for your hand to ask you the question. 

“Are we ever going to see each other again?” 

Cursing you eternity with these innocent words.

Bit by bit, since that day 

I fear the distance of our curse grows farther and farther between us.

As the season of warmth arrived closer all I could think about was the things we had all those nights ago, faded away as the ever expanding universe runs away from our grasp. However even if the curse between us grew, my affection for you is like an overfilled cup of love.

To you, my beautiful flower, I’ve failed to notice your misery hidden by your sweet smile, this I regret. 

That day, as I reached for your soft hand, I wish I could have said as loudly as my love for you.

“என் உலகே நீதான்.”

(You are my world)