

49th indianKUKAI
Hosts: Kashinath Karmakar, Neena Singh,
Amoolya Kamalnath, Rohan Kevin Broach

submit your poem
April 1 to April 14, 2025 -
12 Midnight (IST)
please ensure you have read the submissions guidelines before you participate.
voting ballot
1
not too distant -
first sighting of
poui in bloom
2
cherry blossom
his dreams are rousing
from insomnia
3
bombed sky-
a blossoming violet,
among the ruins
4
dream caller
the first showers
of drusy pink
5
old fence
with climbing roses
no entry allowed
6
caressing blossoms
I teach my daughter
good vs bad touch
7
belated blooms
some friendships
take time
8
Summer walks
a rain lily
at my dog's spot
9
hard freeze...
the flowers that die
without blossoming
10
suspended in air -
returns to its flower
a hummingbird
11
cherry blossoms –
we both speak the language
of silence
12
wearing a training bra
for many years
--late bloomer
13
child bride
camellia set to blossom
on the wrong side
14
almost crossed
releasing daddy's hand
a hop to the kerb
15
Pearl light
Of a new moon blossoming
Love returning
16
nightshade
another lamb cries
of ear-tagging
17
warmer spring
solitary bees hatch to find
just-dropped blossoms
18
winter rain
the air awash with laughter
of old mums on swings
19
the unlettered woman
sends voice messages...
cotton bolls
20
her first smile
after the surgery...
cherry blossoms
21
bursting through
the crust of winter
I blossom with the spring
22
cracked pavement breathes
a tiny violet push
— sudden purple scent
23
night air thickens
a hidden flower breathes scent
into summer dark
24
sunrise unfurling
across the Somme
Flanders poppies
25
motherhood -
little face blooms
when she hears her mother's voice
26
summer holidays
rediscovering my childhood
in marigold fields
27
peaceful response
the trees' buds explosions
on the battlefield
28
midife melancholy . . .
watching the days slip by
falling petals
29
every blossom falling
another
violent death
30
spring walk –
clouds of cherry petals
I take off my sandals
31
cherry blossoms -
the same dream
over and over
32
a million flowers
blossoming for democracy
Washington Monument
33
path to the shrine
through the blossoming
dogwood forest
34
cherry blossom
in the kindergarten playground
I steal a branch
35
first breath
alveoli unfurl
blossoming
36
mother's tears
the scent of rain
after flowering
37
within the silence
i find myself
spiritual blossoming
38
blossoming the length of one's life
39
my biopsy
reblooming only her
until fall
40
whistling birdsongs ...
beneath cut blossoms
a childhood friend
41
scattered stars
a pale galaxy
of gum blossoms
42
a rose newly born
unaware of the the thorn
the world plays tariff
43
gentle breeze
between cherry petals
pink butterfly
44
prime time
the expectant mother’s cheeks
are blossoming
45
nightfall
rising yellow moon
a cactus blooms
46
Cassia Fistula blooms
does the paper flower
unfold its fragrance
47
that summer...
I drink tea with
jasmine blossom
48
war again
cherry tree in full blossom
between shells
49
bringing tidings
from the neighbour's cherry
warm zephyr
50
bradford pear blossoms
most of my conversations
are with cats
51
the midwife
wipes her hands
first cry fills the well
52
silky petals
fingers linger
as you mature
53
magnolia blooms -
is filled the void of silence
between our words
54
remember our first date...
here the cherry blossoms
are blooming again
55
spring morning
our footsteps laced
with pink puddles
56
cherry blossoms
the whisper of a dream
long forgotten
57
bougainvillea bloom
the abundance hides
its thorns
58
hospice window -
after a long time
blossoming a new
59
Snowdrifts in April
Cherry blossoms lie
About the changing seasons;
Petals dust the ground.
60
day by day
more and more white
in the garden
61
trees dotted
with tight violets
...waiting to exhale
62
a few touch-me-nots
blooming on the sidewalks ...
war-torn street
63
Ukraine
a blossoming daffodil
wilts alone
64
the blue butterfly
lends its wings-
to the cherry blossom
65
blooming cactus
she shares her secrets
for the first time
66
orchard dawn
from limb to limb
a pink petal path
67
a sprout
from the cotton wool –
childhood
68
a new light
along the dry stone wall-
almond tree in bloom
69
first flush
on the bone china
blossoming sakura
70
overnight study...
neem blossoms
fragrance
71
cherry blossoms
decorated
my child's grave
72
wet-on-wet . . .
each drop from my brush
blooms a poppy
73
strings of mogra
for her hair
in bloom
74
coal-black night
the awakening
of moonflowers
75
hospital bed-
the scent of cherry blossoms
cheers the patients
76
erasing the words
in the versification...
cherry blossoms
77
magnolia in bloom...
dreaming about being
a Barbie doll
78
a three-year-old
utters his first word ‘Amma’ …
blossoming at last
79
cherry blossoms
over the park
children's laughter
80
crocus spears mother finally into remission
81
roses blooming the scent of sacrifice
82
meadow flowers-
the wind dries
a cloud
83
in red pallu
her chemo curls ...
pink full moon
84
the sway of palm fronds pink moon
85
one by one
reborn my thoughts for him
cherry blossom tree
86
and why is that petal in your hair not me?
87
classroom yarns
together with learning
their laughter
88
her first ghungroos
a blossoming affair
with dance
89
souvenir photo...
blossoms turn away
from the car mirror
90
e r e m i t i o n
i
smile
91
final train
jasmine petals caught
between sketches
92
refugee camp...
cherry blossoms stuck
to the barbed wire
93
orange blossoms
up the hill
grandma's house
94
wild plum in bloom
a rusted axe
at the trunk

vote for poems
before the sun sets!
April 19 to April 26, 2025 -
12 Midnight (IST)
please ensure you have read the voting guidelines
before you participate.