Moments of Wonder and Ponder

A futile apology A short narrative.   Slowly, carefully…I entered the room. My heart pounded; emotions escalated; limbs trembled; what was I going to expect? The room was decorated with gaudy and bold shades of red wallpaper that maliciously smirked at me in revenge whenever I raised my head or got lost in a cloud of delusional thoughts. I hesitated to glance at the grandfather clock, which ticked in ponderous reminder. It emitted a slow and paced, monotonous sound that echoed and rebounded back onto the hollow walls - hollow and empty, lost out of life. The atmosphere — musty and cold- wrapped me in a suffocating, heavy, inescapable trap; it enveloped me, it made me feel heavy — my chest felt uneasy. The hefty and bulky teak furniture dominantly sat in place; heavy cotton curtains cascaded down onto the floor like a waterfall, blocking every inch of sunlight that hoped to enter the room through the window. In the corner of the room, there was a photograph stuck onto the wall. A sm...

nathan-wright-igpwuxZofgo-unsplash.jpg The room was pitch—black. Towering shadows danced frantically on the cracked bathroom door. The low ceiling was covered with their skeletal fingers that awaited to grasp Kayla and tear her apart. They threatened her. They frightened her and tormented her pitiful soul. Turning five was not something to be proud of, after all. It meant you were too big to sleep beside Mommy and that you were responsible for deterring spirits who lurk and linger around you at midnight. Since last week’s memorable birthday party, Kayla never felt safe when the clock struck nine at night. “On the bed, Kay!” the frightful command goes, followed by echoes of ghastly phantoms who seek to torture the shivering timid child. Kayla hid under her quilt and pretended to feel Mommy’s comforting warmth. She imagined Mommy’s tender touch and longed for an escape from the ruthless situation. Despite her attempt to battle her fears, they pierced their blade-like fingers through her ...

  Photo by Kees Streefkerk on Unsplash The Sea  Poem by Khadijah Dilshad I stretched my feet towards him; he touched them tenderly, His delicate hands soothed me so warmly. He gazed at me for a prolonged while, All I did was responded to him with a tranquilized smile. Slowly he calmly neared me, I sat still, taking in the experience that was noteworthy. I looked around, it was only me and him - not anyone else, He drove me closer to himself: And whispered the sweet melody of his surf.

  Photo by Tony Mucci on Unsplash Years and years ago, in a majestic palace adorned with gold chandeliers and silk carpets, there lived an honoured king who had gained the respect and love of his people for uplifting them from their poverty-stricken lives; he had made every person in his nation happy, except for his one and only son and child, the prince. The young prince neither smiled nor laughed, he sat all day miserable and deprived of happiness. The distressed king showered the prince with wealth and gave him beautiful women, camels and horses, but the prince was never happy.  "What do you want more, son?" asked the king.  The prince bowed his head and remained voiceless on his imposing throne. He was a pathetic sight. One day, before going to bed, the prince peered curiously from his lofty bedroom window. There appeared an old man tottering down a steep road, he hobbled and limped. The prince stared at the old man and watched him settle near a tree. The old man lai...

Fireworks are and have been a form of unleashing joy in a time of celebration, it has become the main part of any celebration and is constantly improving in order to achieve more spectacular displays and enjoy every moment of pleasure with utmost satisfaction. It is undeniable that the vivid colours and graphics that dance its way in the sky and form mesmerizing pictures are impressive enough to blow our minds off, and who would love to experience watching something like that if they weren't aware of the dangers that are caged within just one firecracker? A few moments of awe and enjoyment deludes many people from the realities of fireworks, the harmful chemicals released into the atmosphere harm our environment, animals and people, metallic compounds that are inside fireworks are very harmful and cause numerous dangers, the oxidizers, (perchlorates) that are used to produce oxygen tin order to create an explosion can contaminate drinking water, rivers and lakes, which would no dou...

Photo by Zuza Gałczyńska on Unsplash F ascinating it may seem, I gniting the sky - making it supreme! R eality - however- is painful... E verybody should be utterly shameful W ho hail this pathetic entertainment. O ur duty is the focus on the containment. R ealize the pain - and how many it K ills, the trauma animals face, don't fail to admit, S uch unjust behavior faces regretful consequences. - Khadijah Dilshad

  Remember?  By:  Khadijah Dilshad Remember those good days, When happiness over took my face? When grief was not there, When worry was so rare? Remember? Remember those good times, When days were covered by the brilliant ray of sunshine? Remember the clucks and plucks of the chickens that were once chicks, And the sweet tuxedo cat that used to lick? Remember? Remember those good times, When creativity was the only source that helped us get up, revive and climb? Where family as absent, And how everyone frowned when we spoke in our different accent? Remember? Remember those sad times? When we used to be drowned in the sour limes? When sickness befell her, And we came to realize who cares for sure? Remember? Remember those sad times? When fights used to dim all the happy lights? Remember? Remember? Remember the sour and smiles? I surely do, and they last at all times…

The house was large and rectangular, its structure determined that it was designed with much diligence. It stood in the center of an immaculate lawn, surrounded by common lilacs and Azaleas trimmed in bushes, bright - colored and vibrant -  creating a vivid and lively atmosphere. The subtle and soft fragrance of blooming flowers, breezy wind that encircled through made them swing and dance all along in different directions. A big, naturally carved pond was found in the corner, it had impressive, eye-catching, lively koi fish that swam through. Attractive garden chairs surrounded the big, wooden, table with an exquisite glass top. Sturdy light grey bricked walls surrounded the garden, the graceless bougainvilleas peered through the wall and reclined on it. A tall, broad, rectangular building stood connected to the right of the wall, it was built with luxurious precious stones that shone upon reflecting the sunlight, Tall, huge glossy French - windows gleamed, and the tilled steps th...

 The house was located on the left side of a small, narrow street, where both sides were fully overgrown with an abundance of wild trees, grass, and weeds - it was as though they were all neglected properties being left for years.  The two-storied house itself was small, it had a triangular-shaped roof, a dirty, muddy, rusted colour on the cracked walls that seemed to collapse. A rusted roof falling apart with holes in it all over it, windows were not too small, there were three of them, all closed with a plank from the inside. The entrances were on the ground floor, the doors by themselves not present; a dark purplish wall could be overseen through the inside, rubble was heaped in the entrance of one of them and the grassy weeds prevented anyone from stepping in. One of the three windows were on the up floor, a door with a tiny balcony in front of it, some plank that had fallen was stuck in-between the balcony and door- as if it was thrown away by the furious wind. Thin and g...

 A descriptive text from the perspective of a little child as he is taken with his grandfather to a forest in the village, in search of the witch who is supposed to cure everybody's problems and sicknesses. It was in an overgrown, dim forest, at the corner of it a vague shadowy hut was overseen. The path had been created perhaps through the years of carriages and people passing by it, there weren't any huts around the forest -  so we assumed it would be the one we were in search of. Close by, I could sense I didn't belong there, I felt like grabbing my grandad's hand and darting out. It was a tiny odd-shaped muddy-coloured hut, with a cluster of palm leaves placed above it to form a secure roof, uneven, rough, mud walls surrounding it - fully covered in moss that made it look awfully damp and enough to collapse on one of us. Trudging toward the hut, I tiptoed continuously, as red ants scampered all along the path vigorously trying to capture a bite from my feet. All I c...

 My nightmare landscape :   It was almost difficult to see through the murky, dull overcast. My eyes flickered. I tried to concentrate - my body didn't feel balanced and my brain was foggy. The ground was vast, full of withered greyish leaves, pilled up, thick brawny roots creeped through, they looked as if they had hands that would appear to reach me out - with those long rooty fingers, and grab me through. I stumbled. Tried to clench one of the old, sturdy barks.  A path had been made through, as long as my eyes could foresee - I tried to follow it faithfully. A bitter, cold breeze swirled through the landscape, uplifting every leaf below -  strands of the hairs on my skin straightened. Onto the right of the path a tire swing was tied to one of the trees - it was swinging, in obscure patterns. Blocking the pathway - a humungous, withered, ancient brown tree was leaning over, about to collapse in a jiff. I crouched my back and crept under as the leaves tickled ...

  Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash Stolid Grandmother She is genial in her own ways, It is shown in obscure traits, Yet- you could sense it distinctively. Certain behaviors make her loathe others,  Such as being delinquent, disobedient, or disorderly. If she notices one's good courtesy, Even if she's beyond merry - A compliment you wouldn't hear. It's rare. But at heart, she's more than pleased. It's seldom to hear a praise of happiness for a meal prepared with delight and care, Again, it's rare. She praises you in her heart. Her feelings are unknown. Never to be put out. That's my grandmother. - Khadijah Dilshad

  When Will It Grow Again? You grow all about, I've seen your sprout, Grief overtook me soon then, I wondered 'when', "When were your leaves going to grow again?" As they were dying off because of no sun, But soon I realized it is all lame, Seeing the rain go away,  I saw the sun's rays- upon you - whilst you fade. Soon after you were gone... All I did was waited, I got three more; that grew over an abandoned lawn, It made me elated. Realized I'm lucky, Soon gratitude overtook me. Khadijah Dilshad

Photo by Norbert Kowalczyk on Unsplash The first of the sub atomic particle to be discovered in the atom was the electron. Physicists had learned to control and create electrical flows, however, to discover what electricity was, it required the separation of the properties of electricity from the wire or material which was impractical because when electricity flows through the wire or other material that creates an electric charge, it is impossible to separate the two. The method that could be executed in order to separate electricity from the particular materials that hold it was by studying the flow of electricity through a vacuum or near a vacuum. In 1858 Johann Geissler's invention of the improved air pump made it possible to extract sufficient air from a glass tube creating a near-vacuum in the tube. The Crookes tube contained a glass tube with a near-vacuum and a wire that carried along an electric current at one end called a cathode and at the other end, a positively charge...

An outline of a quest story. Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash Henry Fox was a 17 - year-old determined teenager who grew up with his grandmother. He lived an ordinary life of unpleasant occurrences and was mostly a dejected person until, after ongoing squabbles, he inherited his great grandfather's valuable, beyond price treasure that consisted of 95 pairs of gemstones, and many blue diamonds, also a map to another valuable treasure.  Before death, Henry was lucky enough to hear one of the last statements of his wise great grandfather at a young age when he requested Henry to vow to him in honesty that he will never let his relatives know that he inherited this treasure. Quite unfortunate for him, but after the death of his great grandfather, Henry came to an awareness that two of his past comrades had turned against him, Marlin and Edward. The two untrustworthy boys had accompanied Henry whilst he heard this advice from his great grandfather, to Henry's astonishment they ...

Photo by Kiran CK on Unsplash The pot was pulled across the verandah, scrapping its floor which made me feel sudden guilt and consciousness. I tried to wipe the scratch marks with my hand and then a large piece of clothing, but nothing helped so I took my eyes off and walked away to do my other work, but something stopped me from walking away. I felt the discomfort of a slightly sharp tiny detailed piece of dark coloured wood that had light severity in pain when stepped on, basically not noticeable to how light its sharpness effected. I bent and picked it up, wondering how a wood particle would come to the verandah as nothing around was wood, however, I didn't take much notice as it wasn't something to even think about when it's so atomic, but it took my notice highly when it seemed to sort of move a bit, I shook it slightly, as if it were to have life it would've moved but... it didn't, just wobbled and behaved just like a shy piece of wood would do, "no fanc...

  free - verse beetle poem inspired by 'Baby tortoise' by D.H Lawrence   Tiny black beetle, you move so gently, gripping the surface with your slightly bent curves of your six legs,  wobbling slightly, chubby soot-black beetle... your abdomen shacking...your furry legs take you on voyages, through the mossy surfaces that clog your legs a little... hard roots, making you bob up and down. you're crouched back, and lowered head with lovely antennas of separated orange-coloured sections of three, so detailed... Dark, smooth chocolate. Innocent, bottom furry one... your body sliced smoothly into three, largest to smallest,  oh so gentle, tiny black beetle.

 

"We have undergone so much. Homo sapiens they are called? For what wisdom - do they even own?" he said as his luminous crown twitched vigorously. ''Enough, they think using their 'power' will stop us?'' he continued, "Despotism. Using that sort of 'power'!".  His face was unhappy and he sulked over every minute that passed by. He had known the hidden abilities that his team possessed but the fear of the future overcame every thought.  In a deep breath of two, certainty stuck the core. It wasn't the last minute, more was to come, for humankind was clueless and the future had to change. And that's how it all began... In 2019, December, in China's city Wuhan, in a very or absolute unknown world, more than what the naked eye was to see, in the unknown world of viruses, troops and troops, billions and billions, of red triangular crowned viruses with light gray bodies, and others with long blue crowns - most of them varying in c...