World Poetry Day: Poems that tender my heart and soul

Revisiting some of my favourite poems from my personal poetry collection To Life, With Love

Mar 21, 2025

“And if, when all this is over, I am asked what I did with my life, I want to be able to say I offered love.” - Terri St Cloud

Poetry is the magical dance between the mind and the heart; pain and love. On the occasion of World Poetry Day, I am reminded of the aforementioned quote. But when I am asked what I did with my life, I want to be able to say, “I offered love, and my words to the world.”

Words have so much power. I want my words to offer you solace, smile and hope.

To celebrate the day, here’s revisiting some of my favourite poems from my personal poetry collection To Life, With Love

Gratitude

Of the many lessons my father has taught me
he told me to always remember the two golden words in life
'gratitude' and 'contentment'

I did not know what life meant
before I understood the depth of these words
and the magic they create
I am now grateful to this life
and everything that makes it beautiful
the people I call home
and the strangers that are kind

to the sun that shines every day
and the stars that give me hope
to the water that keeps me going
and the legs that keep me running
for having a pair of eyes
that help me see the wonders of this world
to the senses that keep me awakened
the flowers that bloom in different seasons
and the fruits that taste like joy

the many sunsets that remind me
that I'm in awe of nature and its beauty
the silver lining in the clouds
and the animals that walk the earth

every second that I breathe
and every moment that I consume
I am also grateful for the mistakes I make
and the lessons I learned
and for the thought that I have a tomorrow
a chance to see more
of what the universe has to offer
because there's so much to explore

Love Around Me

Love is a universal language
often conveyed best in the absence of words
when mom cooks my favourite dishes on the nights I'm home
or when dad gives those five minutes of sleep on the days I'm sore

in my dog's eyes
as they light upon my return
my brother's wicked laugh
when he teases me a little
and in my best friend's borrowed clothes

when my girlfriends cheer for me from across cities
to the one in town, who always saves me a seat
in my grandmother's voice
when we speak after days

love is also sprinkled
in the special ginger morning tea
or the extra quilt my mother puts on me
in the cold nights when I'm fast asleep

it is etched in the words written
in my slam book from the past
but also in the pictures on my walls
of friendships that will last

I also find love in the reflection
staring back at me
every time I look into the mirror

The Sun and the Moon

When I stop and look around me
I see,
two butterflies chasing each other
the thousand different shades of green
some in leaves, some in trees
some in the bushes next to me
an endless sea of clouds
some scattered, some together
the many patterns they form
colours screaming to me
some red, some pink
flowers blooming
some falling leaves on the ground

I hear,
the rustle of those leaves
the singing of the birds
the cars that pass by with strangers in love
the sound of the wind
as it whispers in my ears

I feel,
the warmth of the sun
as it kisses my skin
and the weight of the breeze
pulling me with it
and for a second I am lost
in the beauty of nature
how lovely it is
a simple afternoon
all by myself
but also the sun and the moon

Colours

I forget how colourful my life is
red, my mother's smile
when she laughs from her heart
her lipstick stains on every tea cup

brown, the colour of my dog's eyes
innocent and pure
just like his soul
always shining so bright
and lighting up my day in the darkest of hours

blue, my brother's coffee cup
placed on the shelf as a souvenir
of all the places he's been to
and the places he's yet to go

grey, my dad's hair
all the wisdom he holds
of the years well lived
the lessons taught
and passed to us kids

pink, my best friend's cheeks
her selfless heart and
stupid decisions
that we make together
among a thousand other memories

I forget how colourful my life is
but one look at the people in it
and their laughter
I'm filled with gratitude and love
for the colours they add to it