Beginning The box in which he brought the ashes is only as big as a shoebox. Radha takes a deep breath and looks away—and grasps my hand. I am a little perplexed: Anil, when alive, occupied a generous portion of space; in death, his coffin was even more spacious, and it took some serious effort …
One summer day in nineteen sixty-four, The eager spectators broke into a loud roar! As the starter of the marathon pulls the trigger, Thirty-eight athletes set to run ten thousand metres. Hours passed, The winners were announced— Gold and silver medals and bronze Adorn the winning Olympic icons. Race over, the rest give up. To …
The stench of disintegration stings my nose. Dank, dark, and decaying. Stealthily, it sneaks up on me, gaining strength every day. I need to escape.Rapier tongue rusted, memory milky, ragged mane. A draining of his vitality.Steely eyes have lost their power to impale. His roar is now a garbled croak. Walled up within himself. The …
“Strictly no palmyrahs on your drawings dear, It’s national level, after all,” the teacher warned. “You never know who marks your paper, Or what language he speaks. Better be discreet, and hold it back, Who you are, what you are, Or where you’re from.” Years roll by – the capital’s my new lover. “She’s Tamil.” …
She wasn’t sure what woke her up Nestling closer to the warmth of her mum Not daring to make even a hum She forces her eyes shut. Space The darkness of that still night Is then dispersed with flash of lights Bursting sounds. Space Soon the ears were deafened Screams of agony, vibrating roofs She …
An old man, A weathered tree, Gripping the door With his rind-like hand, Barely able to stand. space Bags under his eyes Hint at the heavy burdens He bears, Too tired to cope Standing all day long. space A hollow ache in heart echoes inside, Fate too harsh On souls who just bide, Seeking a …
“I hate this job.”“Likewise.”“How are you today?”“Like any other, you?”“Same old, same old. You going back home tonight?”“Yeah.”“Night Mail?”“You got it,” Madhawa replied, their conversation flowing with no skipped beats, scripted, well-rehearsed. “What about you? Any weekend plans?”Across the table from him, Prince Jayaseelan chuckled, eyes on his food. “My parents are still dead set …
I was just three The night hung heavy over us I could smell the burning in the air I could sense the tension In our dinner-time conversation. But my little mind Couldn’t understand why – Why were people screaming And running everywhere? Why were my parents speaking In hushed murmurs? Why was our house in …
Long after the net was tugged in And its catch spread out on golden sands, After the struggling prisoners were Claimed by calloused work-worn hands, Space The repudiated, graveless, Look on with glassy lifeless eyes, At the dusk’s orange rhapsody And the night’s star-sprinkled skies, Space While their elegant fins And scales of vibrant and …
What is The Scroll? The Scroll is an online literary magazine created by the Lakmahal Community Library that aims to provide a Sri Lankan/local platform for creative English writers at all stages of their creative journey, to experience working with editors and priming them to engage with the wider publishing community. All finalized submissions will …
