Photography © Chad Parenteau

 

Home

Where is my home?
My parents have one,
With windows to views
Of bright golden sun.
Yet peace evades me-
I find none.

Where is my home?
My friends have their place,
With laughter and stories
And warmth I can trace.
Their tales are happy,
But I’m not in that space.

Where is my home?
I wander through books,
In music and verses,
In faraway nooks.
Strangers’ words comfort
More than familiar looks.

Where is my home?
I dream of it at night,
In fragments of memories
That fade with the light.
Some moments are joyful,
Others not quite right.

But here is my home-
In words that I write,
In strength that I find
When I’m losing the fight.
What I sought in others
I build in my mess,
Each letter and line
A step toward wholeness.

 

Priyanshi Singhal is a poet whose work explores the search for belonging, the complexities of mental health, and the quiet strength found in vulnerability. Her writing often uses vivid metaphor and introspection to navigate themes of identity, resilience, and self-discovery. Her poems have previously appeared in Rhizomatic Revolution Review Journal (“Serendipity”) and Oddball Magazine (“Out of Order”). Through her poetry, Priyanshi invites readers to witness moments of struggle and hope, drawing from personal experience and a deep empathy for those finding their way through darkness toward light.

Chad Parenteau is Associate Editor of Oddball Magazine.