53rd indianKUKAI
Hosts: Kashinath Karmakar, Neena Singh,
Amoolya Kamalnath, Rohan Kevin Broach
submit your poem
April 1 to April 14, 2026 -
12 Midnight (IST)
please ensure you have read the submissions guidelines before you participate.
voting ballot
the voting period has ended
1
freezing rain —
Braille dots
on the windowsill
2
the thorny stems
of velvety red roses
hand-picked
3
fingerspelling
her lover’s name on my back
pillion ride
4
end of dream -
touching the sky
a paper boat
5
homecoming
faces pressed
to window stars
6
soap bubbles... eyes wide the baby reaches out
7
rain season...
the old willow touches
the pond again
8
his mouth
struggles at the breast
false spring
9
soap bubbles -
touching a rainbow
with my finger
10
dandelions . . .
the feel of cotton-clouds
in mother's arms
11
daisies drenched
with morning dew
my lips touching hers
12
harvest moon —
father’s last
blue fingerprint
13
spring mulch
the painful touch
of a splinter
14
rubbing on powder
three shades lighter than me
fifty-first birthday
15
dew on new leaves
the barest touch
of spring
16
at grandma's grave
tousled by a warm breeze
the nephew's hair
17
to touch it
or not to touch it
first snowflake
18
on my skin
her hands draw-
the sky of Africa
19
slanting light . . .
chiseled in the wood grain
your rough heart
20
on the mend...
a kitten's touch
gives me spring
21
her touch
a bit of spring on the way
to eternity
22
neighbor’s dog
the long sniff
on my hand
23
touch of oars
on the pink water -
cherry blossoms
24
deep silence –
the hush of a cricket song
as your hand finds mine
25
cherry blossoms
her haiku nominated
for the touchstone awards
26
thoughtfulness…
fleeting caress
of wordless empathy
27
shattered soul
find a flinching bird
shivering touch
28
as we say grace
the old cat
licks her paws
29
wood grain -
stroking you
one last time
30
the cool sand –
their lips
touch the sun
31
winter cafe
your touch fading
into sobremesa
32
wrapped in white
mysore-silk mullet skirt
calla lily
33
battle cry —
a toddler stumbles
with an infant
34
my dad teaches me
how to memorize texture
—mimosa in bloom
35
lonely night –
the touch of snowflakes
without a sound
36
Touch - soft as sunrise,
a whisper felt, never heard,
hearts bloom in its glow.
37
deep sunset
his blackened thumb
post shock
38
heat
at the stadium
touchdown
39
in the wind’s path,
a leaf shaped like a rocket...
explosion
40
summer peach
his shaved head
warm to the touch
41
sleepover
my son’s friend flinches
at my hug
42
the velvety underside
of my indie's pigtail ears
... holding on to time
43
I am alive
free, brave, whole
in my grandma's diary
44
temple festival --
an elephant's trunk
on a bowed head
45
romantic dinner
the shadow of candle
on her decollete zone
46
snaring a heart …
first the nose at my knee
then two paws up
47
summer mandala
fingertips mottled
with colors
48
wet clay idol
a thumbprint
deepens
49
miscarriage...
on her windowsill
touch-me-not
50
quiet as always —
a white cherry blossoms,
morning mist blooms too
51
my boy climbs
the highest branch
to touch the yellow moon
52
words that touch
an empty heart
I love you
53
chapstick
the only touch
she takes
54
gripping
my finger--
my baby's soft hand
55
rain of bombs –
white angels touch
the bloody sky
56
in the night garden
caressed by murmuring birds
—ah, synesthesia!
57
moon lit night
touch of sandalwood
on his forehead
58
reading the braille
on the stone memorial—
moonset
59
feather touch -
the feel of baby fingers
caressing my cheek
60
march rain
between the fingers
almost nothing
61
slow day
a tot's hand hesitant
to pat the dog
62
three years past —
my fingertips not used to
the surgery scar
63
the last touch —
one hand lingering in
another
64
magnolia bloom . . .
the open hand
of a runaway
65
heat -
the dog's tongue touches
water
66
oil massage
pain seeping out
of every wrinkle
67
inclement skies spin clockwise this dizzy weather
68
touching down i need me for me
69
bombed apartment
the soft touch of
a dying child
70
empty town square
a tattered doll pillows
on a spent shell
71
new birth
ink flows into thoughts
blank page
72
spring morning…
a nightingale's song
sways the mist
73
summer vacation...
my child misses
the hugs at school gate
74
rain water beads touch Taro leaves high and dry
75
flurry of petals
grandma's gnarled hands
stroke my cheek
76
entangled
in the spider's web
another spider
77
full moon night
my mother’s pale hand
reaches for mine
78
war's end
the coldness of crutches
in a soldier's hands
79
sakura blossoms...
the heart is touched again
by painful memories
80
a butterfly touches-
a child's head
a bated breath
81
million dollar smile
she holds the baby
for the first time
82
the first raindrops
anointing her head …
barefoot on a road
83
summer mountain
the clouds touch
the peaks
84
her click of matchstick
table full of salt and sweet
sumptuous hearts
85
cherry blossoms...
l learn to read a poem
written in Braille
86
ever clamped
to wipe your tears
my hand
87
numbness
the dark side of the
half moon
88
untouchable
a moth flew in and landed
on yesterday's snowy spot
89
The naughty baby
keeps nudging me all the time—
Touch me not! I scream
90
his clock stopped
at one after midnight-
ash bark
91
delicate frills
her words full of humanity
and a touch of humour
92
skin hunger
the open arms
of any tree
93
village headmaster
learning to say his name
a different language
94
calloused hand
on my fevered brow
keep vigil
95
backstreet puddle
children race leaves
around the moon
96
my skin
still tingling
stinging nettle
97
blending the sky
with her fingers
landscape artist
98
fart sounds
their palms against buses
young leaves
99
a cherry blossom
in a spider’s web—
sakura day
100
caressing a pebble I bring back the river
101
tender touch
the house help finds the stains
hard to clean
102
Memorial Plaque—
Feet wet with tears,
crushing the leaves
103
fresh dew
the time of a touch
the sky lasts
104
red finger marks
on her young cheeks
touch-me-not
105
intoxication
a kiss of wine
from your lips
106
Touch of egoism…
a sick present-day Nero
burns the Middle East
107
meeting your eyes
through the looking glass
pandemic farewell
108
Folded hands -
a long tight hug after a gap -
touch does not lie.
109
alcohol
swab cold on warm skin
needle stick
110
all I remember
is dadi’s papery skin
origami orchid
111
homecoming...
the brush of a soft kiss
doused in garam masala
112
a brush
with moonlight
the newborn in my arms
113
tea picking breeze . . .
a mother's lull
earworms through the rows
114
anniversary —
in an old photo
linden blooms again
115
terms of endearment
touch the wind in passing -
chapter's end
116
after rippling the lake ...
the dragonfly goes
back to the pole again
vote for poems
before the sun sets!
April 19 to April 25, 2026 -
12 Midnight (IST)
please ensure you have read the voting guidelines
before you participate.