The villain is believed to be the enemy.
The one that everyone despises.
The one that is thought to be selfish
And believed to think only of themselves.
But what if the villain is not so evil?
The villain that protects those they love.
The villain that only wishes to be loved back.
The villain who would sacrifice the world for their love.
The villain that could be the hero,
If only the world loved them back.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!!

Today I saw, oh, quite the sight,
A man on a pole, dressed in black-tight.
Crowds gathered, police gave a shout,
“What’s your name? What’s this about?”

He stood tall, his voice so deep,
“I am Batman,” made the crowd leap.
A silence fell, then laughter grew,
Till another yelled, “I’m Batman too!”

Each man then puffed their chest in pride,
“I’m the hero,” they all replied.
From pole to street, the claim was grand,
Each one a savior of this land.

Yet as the scene turned to delight,
We all forgot the true dark knight.
For Batman isn’t just a name—
It’s every man’s secret, heroic claim.

By Vedanta Anagha (Mayank Tripathi)

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!!

A piece of mine, that looks so fine,
Yet I never mattered in the fragile line.
Let them paint me cruel, unworthified-
A villain crafted by their own design.

They tell the tail in the black and white,
While casting shadows in the light.
But I just want to say goodbye-
No exit applause, no final bow, no crowd-defined.

I murdered myself to end this night,
Just to see you happy, see you smile
-even the cloud cloud feel it right.
I'm not wrong, I was cast as the  villain,
Because it's easier to call you divine.

The truth unfolds, still lost in time,
And maybe it's simpler-
To be the villain than explain what's behind.

By Vedanta Anagha (Mayank Tripathi)

A hero to me is not just a person who died for their country
or went inside a burning building or stuff like that.
A hero to me is a single mother who survives every day by herself,
A teenager against all odds getting through life,
An alcoholic walking into a rehab center,
A father being not just a father
but a friend, caregiver, supporter, a brick wall for his kids.
A friend, who no matter what or how wrong you are,
stands up for you and takes your side.
A hero, who no matter how hard they are being hit or pushed or beat down,
no matter how bad they are emotionally or physically or psychologically,
they stand up and keep going.
They push through the pain of life, love, kids, work, school, drugs,
sports, parents, heartbreak, alcohol; that to me is a hero.
A person who isn't just there, but is there living, breathing, and surviving.

can't stop thinking
you, always a damsel
but what happens dear
when no one comes to
save you?
...
Do you have it in you,
that fire, that spark
to be your own hero?

Is the villain just,
A broken, bleeding, hurting,
Human, or not?

Perhaps their pain is,
Justified. But does it clear,
Their slate, leaving crumbs?

Do they feel remorse?
Do they feel any regret, or
Are they too broken?

Listen to their tale,
You do not have to agree.
Show them empathy.

My hero doesn’t wear a cape,
She wears scars that are deepest.

My hero isn’t tall and strong,
She 4’11 and her shoe size is 5.

Although along her journey she may have saved lives,
The best life she saved was her own.

She doesn’t have trophies to show for her triumphs.
Nor recognized approval from the world.

Had every excuse to succumb and admit defeat,
But from the recesses of hell she came crawling.

I only know some of what she went through,
But even the smallest still makes her my hero.

When I talk to her and tell her my pain,
My thoughts flow from my mouth without hesitation.

She gives me hope and I feel less alone,
I speak to her like I speak to no other.

My hero is saving me from falling too deep,
My hero is wrapping me in her cape.

Sitting in a swirl of unease,
Hope hum's a loving tune.
Erasing traces of fear and chaos,
But clamouring to be heard in full.
A noble knight Hope becomes,
Treasured by the feeble mind,
Respected by the heroic soul.
Hope sits in the metaphysical.

Blushing with discomfort she
Calls to her knight. Hope dashing,
Settles in her mind, lifting her fear.
The villain has passed, her mind slows.
Hope the hero again, her crutch,
No need to strengthen defences.
Hope has galloped to her heed,
Back to the meta Hope rides.

Distaste swells in his soul,
Has she left his heart to die?
Will she take all that was his?
Hope storms through his thoughts,
Lifting one above all the rest.
She cares still, her thoughts are of him.
Hope, chest barrelled slips back
To the metaphysical, cozy once more.

Hope, gentle upon his throne,
See's in the distance Despair,
Who slithers up his golden steps.
She scowls at his taunting grin,
Her eyes keen on his destruction,
But today she has brought tea.
Stepping down from his holy height
Hope stands tall awaiting.
Drooling, Despair pours him
A cup. Her presence greeted
With captivation, and the two
Flow for hours in conversation,
Until both receive call from the
Physical ones again.