Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
The Poem of Peace and Love
Fumes of grey drew ghosts on the sky,
Once a sapphire canvas now painted with cries.
A lone pearly dove flew above the ruins.
A wandering poet saw peace among the chaos.
The rubbles and echoes felt unseen for a while.
As the poet followed the dove with a forgotten smile.
Line by line a poem weaved on the way.
A hopeful light, a bridge over where night lay.
The dove descended on to a hanging block.
Pointed its beak towards the rubbles below.
The poet gazed, seeing a crumpled up book,
Took out a pen, the poet treasured through high and low.
Sat down on the stones, the marks of the violence.
weaved the poem of peace in scared silence.
The poet slowly tied the poem on the dove.
And watched it carried the poem of peace and love.
©️2026 Kushi Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka.
Loveless Humanity
Widowed ‘Humanity’ walked on the road.
Witnessing people breezed right pass through.
Unseen, Unheard, Unfelt, Unmoved.
She was bewildered, Had she became a ghost?
‘Empathy’ and ‘Sympathy’ joined later on,
Still no one noticed their pearly glow.
The world carried on, soulessly happy,
Chasing the mist of greed and money,
‘Kindness’ laid on the road, long gone.
Her stench drew no trails of tears.
‘Honesty’ bled, her dress was stained.
‘Empathy’ and ‘Sympathy’ lost it and fell.
‘Humanity’ unwillingly moved on the road.
Another pearl dress splayed on the floor.
People stood around, singing “Peace lives on”.
While ‘Peace’ laid there distorted and crushed.
At last ‘Humanity’ stumbled and dropped.
Only the nature witnessed this mournful crime.
People walked by laughing hallow croaks.
As six corpses decayed, Unseen, Unmoved.
©️2026 Kushi Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka.
Wishes of the Children
A child watching other children play,
Laughing, running, in a joyous day.
The child looks at his hands in dismay,
Carrying bags of trash every day.
He looks at the clothes of the others.
Bright colours fashioned with animals.
While his shows, his bones through tatters,
Worn and torn, never whole only holes.
He gazes at the parents watching their kids,
Twinkles in their eyes, glowing golden skins.
He wonders where his own, on or under the grass?
Yet he smiles instead, A hope is all he needs.
The playing kids saw him with all the bags,
Wondering of his strange bags and clothes.
Yet ‘come, let’s play’ waves the angelic kids,
Their hearts so pure, Yet the boy hesitates.
One mother got up, coming towards his way,
He prepares to run, but her smile stops his day.
‘Hey, wanna join them?’ She asks lovingly,
The boy slowly nods, Wondering is it a dream or reality?
In life, every child deserves a peaceful life.
It shouldn’t be a dream or a case in the courts.
Only love and care, every child wishes in life.
And nothing should ever, deny that from their lives.
©️2026 Kushi Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka.
Author’s Bio
Kushi Nanayakkara is a Sri Lankan born poetess who brings nature, human experiences, and creativity together through poetry.
She studied Graphic Design/Information Technology before finding her way into poetry in 2020.
Her work often revolves around themes such as: nature, art, life, love, mind, death, philosophy, and social themes such as justice and humanity.
Her poetry was featured in literature websites in USA and India and newspapers in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Her poetry was also published in poetry anthologies and magazines in India, Iraq, USA and the Philippines.
Her sincere wish is to inspire hearts to stay creatively conscious and continue refining her craft.
