He that loves a rosy cheek,

Or a red lip admires,

Or star-like eyes does seek,

To fuel and maintain his fires,

As times makes these decay,

So his flames must waste away.

But a smooth and steady mind,

Gentle thoughts and calm desires,

Hearts with equal love combined,

Kindle never-dying fires,

Where these are not, I desire,

Love cheeks or lips or eyes

— Aman Deep Singh, Class XI,
Guru Nanak Public School, Ludhiana

Because I am a girl

When I took birth,

On the earth.

Every body was sad,

Thought it bad.

Neighbourers came,

To share the pain.

Silent was the nurse,

Said I was a curse.

Because I am a girl,

Stone, not a pearl

Once, a boy lived alone,

With no one at home.

No one to love, no one to care,

Always alone, with no one to share.

After school he sat alone on his couch,

With no one to play and no one to shout.

Parents, busy in their profession,

Unaware of their child’s depression.

Child, always deprived of love,

No hugs and kisses from the mother,

No love from the father too.

Always searching for the happiness which is still due.

— Prachi Minglani, Class X,
Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula