Heaven reconsidered
by Jiya Gupta, India. Second place in the Writory International Poetry Contest, January 2026, scored 96 out of 100.
And you die thinking of reaching heaven, Sealing your fate for a flowering garden. Upon the clouds, when destiny takes you someday, The gods of amber question youтАФ How did it feel in heaven? A startled look surrounds your eyes. Was Earth supposed to be heaven all that time? The human stands in disbelief, Questioning every moment he lived. He cross-questions GodтАФ Wasn't heaven promised when I died? God smiles and replies, If it wasn't heaven according to your mind, What did you do to make it one of a kind? Did you help a soul? Did you ease a burden you did not create? What did you do to make it heaven, Or did you expect it to be all God-given? Even when you are in the sky, I think you will still askтАФwhere is heaven? Even when it stands Right in front of your eyes.
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