This poem has been composed by 11-year-old Aditya Shukla from Hyderabad and was chosen by the Jury for the ‘Best Poem of the Year’ award at the BTB Wordsmiths of the Year Awards 2023.

I grew up

Overshadowed by laughter,

Where the books spoke wisdom.

Scenes of wild kids running fearlessly,

Oh! How I wish it were the night now;

Got myself together and built a heaven.

In good weather, I worked the clouds,

But then came the grim reaper;

The woods were playing with me.

How I wished I was free!