Ritual
written by: Ali Ashhar
It’s the month of October and the transition
is up for the day, the chirping birds witness
desolate leaves at the onset of fall season. Beyond
the aloof horizon belies a vibrant ray of hope;
the caretaker’s metaphors get busy in bridging
the gap between the inner voice and the outer discord,
the syllables get heavy in the contemporary weather
for they carry the onus of vacant melodies
from erstwhile summer. The breeze of conscience around
the garden leads to a boulevard where fellow caretakers
vie for utopia; they follow a ritual in the toughest of times
they profess what comes easiest to them—enlighten the dark ambiance.
Ali Ashhar is a poet, short story writer and columnist from Jaunpur, India who is an internationally acclaimed writer with his writings being published in 15 countries and several literary awards to his name. He is the author of two poetry collections: Mirror of Emotion (Notion Press, 2021) and Across the Shore (Zorba Books, 2024). Following the release of his book, Mirror of Emotions, he was chosen as the Best Debut Author for the year 2021 by The Indian Awaz and was the recipient of an India Prime 100 Authors Award.
Latest posts by Ali Ashhar (see all)
- Ritual - January 28, 2026
- Eternity - May 13, 2025
- Juxtaposition - September 30, 2024
