Poem: Home Away From Home

Home Away From Home

Introduction

Home Away From Home is my poem written to support international students as they navigate the excitement, uncertainty and emotional challenge of studying in a new country.

It recognises that leaving home is an act of courage - one that carries hope, pride, and a longing for belonging.

The poem gently reassures students that it is natural to feel unsettled at first, and that adapting to new ways of doing things does not mean letting go of who they are, where they come from, or the traditions that shaped them.

My poem was created to encourage kindness, connection and understanding. It celebrates the richness that cultural diversity brings to a community, reminding us that when we honour our roots and welcome each other with openness, we create spaces where everyone can thrive.

Home Away From Home invites students to embrace their new environment with curiosity while knowing that their identity, heritage and lived experiences remain a source of strength - a bridge between the past they treasure, the present they are stepping into, and the person they wish to be.

Home Away From Home

Today, I am a tourist,
Stepping into the world
With a fresh pair of eyes -
Many miles from home,
Away from home.

Will you be my friend?
I ask this gently,
With hope inside me still;
For I am not run-of-the-mill,
And nothing feels complete
Until
I’ve found at least
One open heart.

And so, from the very start,
I try to make this place
Home -
Away from home.

I want to try new things,
To see what this new world brings;
Like a free bird, I will sing
Until I get the gist -
For I am a tourist,
And I will not be missed.

I look around,
And I have found
Paved with gold
The streets are not;
But they are old,
And with every smile
I walk a mile,
And step a little closer
Toward my goal.

So treat me well,
And time will tell;
For when we honour
All we are -
Our roots, our hopes,
Our guiding star -
The world becomes
A kinder new home…
A home away from home.

Adisha Kariyawasam,
04 December 2025

🌍 #InternationalStudentLife
🤝 #BelongingAndCommunity
✨ #DiversityEquityInclusion
💛 #KindnessMatters
📚 #LearningFarFromHome

Poem: My Beloved One

My beloved one…

Introduction

Quite often in life, we find ourselves separated from the people we love most.

My poem was written to soothe the hearts of those who may be suffering from grief, homesickness, or any change in circumstance that keeps them apart from their cherished ones.

It was created with kindness, intention, and compassion — a quiet offering of comfort for anyone who needs reassurance, connection, or the gentle reminder that love does not disappear simply because distance exists.

I hope these words bring calm, solace, and a sense of belonging and closeness to those who need it most.

---

My beloved one…

Promise me you will stay safe.

Though circumstances keep us apart,

you are always in my heart —

my constant, quiet light

in the spaces where love cannot speak,

but can, without any shadow of doubt, be felt.

Question not whether I love you,

for it is written in the stars,

in every breaking dawn

and every setting sun,

in every waxing and waning moon —

a love carried across the heavens

that no distance can dim.

Even the tears that gather in my eyes

are not from sadness,

but from pride so profound

it stuns me to silence —

especially as I see

how far you’ve come,

and what a beautiful, gentle being

you have become.

And so, my beloved one,

breathe slowly,

and go forth gently in this world.

Be nourished,

be steadfast.

Make new friends,

but do not be led astray,

nor fooled into a false sense of security

by the unwise.

Remain true to yourself.

Fear nothing,

for the bells will chime

to remind you that you will always be

my darling,

my beloved one.

Adisha Kariyawasam, 

3 December 2025

#Wellbeing 🌿

#KindnessMatters 💛

#Poetry ✨

#EmotionalHealing 🌙

#ConnectedHearts 🔔

Poem: The Queen's Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit

by Adisha Kariyawasam

29 November 2025

Introduction

I'm not going to lie to you - this was the most complex poem I’ve ever crafted. It took around six hours to shape, refine and structure, and by the end I was completely exhausted. Yet, strangely, I also felt deeply satisfied, as though I had finally accomplished something I’d been meaning to write since childhood. It was born from my lifelong fascination with chess.

I play several games a day - not for the sake of constant victory, but because the board offers a quiet, compelling world of strategy, symmetry and imagination. There is something almost theatrical in the way each piece holds its own purpose, its own hidden story, and how a single move can shift the entire balance of play.

The Queen’s Gambit emerged from seeing those pieces not merely as shapes on a board, but as characters caught in an unfolding drama. Their loyalties, their hopes, their moments of courage and doubt began to form a narrative of their own — one touched with devotion, tension, and perhaps the faintest hint of tragedy.

Scattered throughout the poem are small treats for fellow chess-lovers: fleeting references to strategy, subtle motifs, and tiny Easter eggs that reveal themselves to anyone who enjoys the deeper poetry of the game. I hope you enjoy discovering them, and the little world they help bring to life within these sixty-four squares.

Enjoy!

Ⅰ

Pawn soldiers stood firm, guardians beneath the morning sky.

Quiet ranks advanced bravely, protecting dreams they’d never claim.

En passant choices shaped destinies drifting through passing breaths.

Some reached promotion, crowned softly in distant shadowed halls.

Others fell early, echoes fading across frost-bound earth.

They marched for King, yet followed the Queen’s shadowed will.

Each step carried prayers whispered into the waiting silence.

Simple souls holding fragile lines against the widening storm.

Ⅱ

Rooks rose steadfast, fortress towers guarding every trembling file.

Stone shoulders bore centuries sculpted through grief and storm.

Their silence carried power deeper than ancient mountain vows.

Castling with King, they sheltered him behind walls.

Only her voice could shift such rooted, granite endurance.

Rocks obeyed reason; battlements bowed beneath her brilliance.

Unmoved they stood, yet trembled softly beneath her gaze.

True power gathered quietly around the Queen’s still centre.

Ⅲ

Knights thundered forward, armour shivering under fractured moonlight’s glow.

Their reckless leaps crossed borders like wild, laughing comets.

They’d seen her shape scholar’s mate with effortless grace.

Forks of loyalty split heartlines between sovereign, Queen, Knight.

One Knight’s devotion burned brighter than steel-forged honour.

Her guarded eyes softened whenever he rode beside.

Hidden love blossomed quietly through rising middlegame shadows.

Battle thickened, tightening fate around two entwined hearts.

Ⅳ

Bishops glided diagonals, threading omens through weighted twilight air.

Their murmured counsel shaped middlegame tensions darkening the board.

Scripture bent gently toward her bright, unyielding precision.

They warned the King, yet bowed deeper to her.

Every diagonal carried faith mingled with sharpened intuition.

Truth drifted sidelong, cloaked by incense, dusk, uncertainty.

Their reverence shaped strategies more subtle than spoken command.

All paths inclined toward her luminous centre of power.

Ⅴ

The King feared zugzwang pressing fate into narrowing corners.

His heart longed for peace beneath gathering stormcloud banners.

He whispered mercy while generals tasted rising conquest.

He trusted her calm above his uncertain trembling instinct.

She bore crowns’ burdens heavier than winter’s frozen breath.

Stalemate haunted dreams tangled between loyalty, love, war.

Their bond steadied kingdoms trembling on breaking thresholds.

He prayed for light; she prepared necessary shadow.

Ⅵ

War rose distant, whispering storms across silver-lined horizons.

Sicilian tempests gathered where rival banners faced west.

Pieces formed ranks, openings shifting beneath approaching thunder.

Pawns advanced bravely, en passant chances glimmering fleetingly.

Rooks locked files, fortresses holding borders with anchored certainty.

Knights carved spirals, weaving chaos through tightening central lines.

Bishops mapped diagonals, shaping faith against deepening dark tides.

She watched middlegame swell, heart steeled for sacrifice.

Ⅶ

Her gambit deepened, turning middlegame’s dusk toward endgame.

Positions tightened slowly, drawing fate into cold geometry.

A pin held him - Knight bound to duty’s iron tether.

He’d follow any command whispered from her quiet lips.

Zugzwang pressed her heart; each choice closed another door.

But she chose the realm, sending him oblivious.

He charged forward, comet against night, certain of death.

Victory rang hollow, her heart broke beneath crowned silence.

Ⅷ

Cradling cold victory, she carried truth no other knew.

Her coronation concealed grief she could not voice.

Even triumph hollow where his memory lingered.

Ceremonies faded, leaving silence over loss.

Knowing this, she walked on.

Memories of him remained.

Always in mind.

Their love.

Eternal

♟️ #ArtOfChess

📚 #Storytelling

🎨 #Creativity

✍🏼 #Poetry

🌿 #WellbeingThroughCreativity

Poem: Time for Time...

Time for time...

Introduction

In a world driven by urgency, achievement and perpetual motion, we often forget the one element that quietly shapes every choice we make: time.
Not the ticking of clocks or the deadlines we chase, but the deeper, human kind of time - the time that allows us to breathe, to think, to heal, to become better versions of ourselves.

When we rush, we reduce life to transactions.
But when we slow down, we rediscover meaning.
Time is the silent architect of our wellbeing, our creativity, our relationships and our integrity.
It gives us space to feel, to learn, to make sense of our experiences - and to act with intention rather than impulse.

This poem is a reminder that making time is not an indulgence, but a necessity - like the oxygen we breathe.
It is a call to step out of the frantic tide, to honour what matters, and to see that a life well-lived is not measured by speed, but by depth.

Time for time...

Time is precious.
A quiet companion,
waiting patiently
for us to finally notice
its open hands.

We need time to breathe...
slowly, deeply,
as if each breath were a soft returning
to the person we once promised to be.

We need time to be mindful,
to listen inwardly,
to reconnect with the pulse
beneath all the noise.

We need time to meditate,
to let stillness teach us
what speed never will.

We need time to find our balance,
to reset the compass
that drifts while we rush.

We need time to pause...
to reflect on the imprint
our words and actions leave
on the hearts of others.

We need time to be proud...
of the mountains we have climbed,
and to mourn those we loved
while celebrating the light
they left behind.

We need time to write...
with thoughtfulness and care,
to heal gently,
to live fully
and lead kindly.

We need time to lend a steady hand,
to honour the success of others,
to celebrate their rising
as if it were our own.

We need time to count down
before stepping into new adventure -
that beautiful trembling
between fear and hope.

We need time to show,
to tell,
to reveal truths bravely
so harm can be prevented
and goodness protected.

We need time to spotlight
the best in humanity,
to notice beauty,
to share gratitude,
to applaud the quiet kindnesses
that hold the world together.

And most ironically of all,
we need time
to make more time -
to plan, to savour,
to cherish the things
that give our days their meaning
and our lives their warmth.

Because time moves,
but it also listens.
If we honour it,
it softly returns us back
to where we belong.

Adisha Kariyawasam,
28 November 2025

#MindfulLiving 🕊️
#TimeToReflect ⏳
#WellbeingMatters 🌿
#LiveWithIntention 💫
#KindnessInAction 🤝

Poem: On Being Human

On Being Human...

Introduction

In an age of instant answers and curated digital noise, we run the risk of losing the slow, human rituals that once shaped our minds - turning pages, writing by hand, learning with patience, and thinking for ourselves. This poem is a reminder that our humanity is not measured by the speed of our technology, but by the depth of our understanding, our compassion, and our willingness to stay awake in a world that tempts us with distraction and promises of instant gratification.

There is a quiet art to being human —

to learning slowly,

turning pages with intention,

letting ideas sink in at the pace

of real understanding.

To learn slowly is to forget slowly —

books imprint themselves gently

in ways that screens rarely can.

One reveals;

the other distracts.

There is a sanctuary in libraries —

cathedrals of paper and ink,

where knowledge rests patiently,

waiting for those who seek

not instant answers

but understanding.

Step inside,

and the world speaks softly.

There is beauty in penmanship —

the sweep of ink,

the honesty of handwriting,

each letter revealing the care,

clarity and presence

of the person who wrote it.

In a rushed world,

neat writing is a quiet act of respect.

There is dignity in how we meet each other —

not through labels or prejudice,

but through kindness, curiosity,

and a willingness to listen.

For every human being

carries unseen battles,

untold stories,

and a universe within them.

And yes —

the opposite of Artificial Intelligence

is Genuine Ignorance;

a reminder that tools without wisdom

can make us forget

what it means to truly think.

Beware the subtle hands

that seek to shape our beliefs,

the political currents

that pull at our choices,

the tactical votes

that speak in whispers of fear.

Stay awake.

Stay discerning.

For in the end,

what makes us human —

compassion, conscience, curiosity,

and the courage to read, reflect,

and think for ourselves —

must prevail,

not just for our sanity,

but for our shared humanity.

Adisha Kariyawasam

28th November 2025

#BeingHuman 🌿

#ReadReflectGrow 📚

#ThinkForYourself 💡

#EthicsInTheDigitalAge 🌐

#WisdomOverNoise 🕊️

ESSAY: The 17 Seeds of Sustainability

🌿 The Seventeen Seeds of Sustainability
by Adisha Kariyawasam
25 November 2025

We are living in a defining era - one shaped by climate urgency, digital disruption, AI, data and global interdependence.

In such a world, ethical behaviour, responsible leadership, strategic thinking, innovation and purpose-driven entrepreneurship are essential.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] are not distant aspirations - they are seeds, waiting for us to nurture them with compassion, courage and wisdom.

🌱 A seed that lifts communities from poverty - restoring dignity, security and fair opportunity.
🍞 A seed that ends hunger - where innovation and access ensure every family is nourished.
💚 A seed of wellbeing - supported by compassionate care and data-informed decisions.
📘 A seed of education - unlocking digital literacy, critical thinking and lifelong learning.
⚖️ A seed of equality - where every person is valued, respected and empowered.
💧 A seed of water protection - preserving our most precious resource.
🔆 A seed of clean energy - powered by creativity, science and responsible entrepreneurship.
🤝 A seed of decent work - where fairness, inclusion and wellbeing guide leadership.
🏗️ A seed of innovation and infrastructure - strengthened by responsible AI and digital transformation.
⚖️ A seed of justice and fairness - using technology to reduce, not deepen, inequality.
🏙️ A seed of sustainable cities - designed for safety, nature, belonging and community.
♻️ A seed of mindful consumption - choosing gratitude, reducing waste, honouring resources.
🌍 A seed of climate action - rooted in courage, foresight and ethical responsibility.
🌊 A seed that protects oceans - safeguarding the cradle of life with science and stewardship.
🌳 A seed that protects forests and land - defending biodiversity with care and reverence.
🕊️ A seed of peace, justice and strong institutions - where trust grows from transparency and ethics.
🌐 A seed of partnership - reminding us that sustainability is a shared journey.

Each seed calls us to lead with intention.
Each seed invites us to think not only of today, but of tomorrow.

🌱 A closing reflection

Sustainability is a promise.
Leadership is a responsibility.
And the future depends entirely on the seeds we plant today.

Let us nurture these seventeen seeds with integrity, empathy, innovation and wisdom - so they grow into the world our children deserve.

🌟 A Call to Action
Let us each choose one seed to nurture today - and take one small action that moves our world towards compassion, balance and sustainability.

#Sustainability 🌍
#ResponsibleLeadership 🤝
#InnovationForGood 💡
#EthicalEntrepreneurship 🌱
#FutureGenerations ✨

POEM: Lost and Found

Lost and Found

Introduction

Trigger warning:
Although my poem below is a work of fiction, it is written for anyone who has ever felt unheard, unseen, or been a victim of bullying or harassment within a toxic culture setting.

Remember that the events and characters are fictitious, so please consider it an allegorical tale - a symbolic reflection of the emotional trials many endure in silence.

This poem is offered as solace, strength, and a reminder that sometimes being pushed out of the wrong place becomes the quiet beginning of finding the right one.

For all who are navigating pain, isolation, injustice, or the difficult courage of speaking up, may these words remind you that your integrity is never wasted - and that even in darkness, you can be both lost and found.

Lost and Found
by Adisha Kariyawasam
25 November 2025

During the great pandemic,
when the world felt fragile and far away,
Elara worked in a toxic culture
that mistook silence for weakness
and integrity for inconvenience.

Then one fateful day,
They summoned her 
to a windowless room,
a place untouched by empathy or light.

Like vultures, they circled her
with rehearsed and ruthless cadence,
not spoken from truth
but from fear of being seen.
And again and again they asked:
“Do you know what wrong you did?”
On bullying and corruption,
she had unknowingly lifted the lid.

She did not answer -
for she feared it would make matters worse.
Not through guilt,
but because she knew
some storms grow stronger
the more you speak -
the more it becomes a curse.

Inside her quiet mind,
another truth rose -
steady, calm, unwavering:
“But what about all the good I did?
I’ve unconditionally served
with all my heart.”

This was Elara’s truth,
quiet but unshakable.

But they chose not hear her.
Instead, they said to her in no uncertain terms
To 'Get out!' and 'Never return!'
But, a toxic culture cannot recognise
a seed of courage when it grows in stillness,
nor measure the cost
of speaking the truth
to ears that no longer listen.

So they pushed her out
and tried to cover it up,
believing they had silenced a problem.
Yet in doing so
they unwittingly created her freedom,
and a void in the organisation
that would never be filled again.

Elara stepped into a new team -
one that valued honesty over ego,
kindness over competition,
humanity over hierarchy.
A place where integrity
was not a threat
but a standard, a modus operandi.

And in that gentle space
she learned something profound:
that being forced out
was, in truth, being set free;
that her quiet nature
was not a flaw to be corrected
but a strength the world needed.

Elara was no longer bound to her past misfortune.
She was like a free bird now,
Like a dove of peace
transforming lives,
rising far beyond the reach
of the toxic vultures before her.
Those vultures circled their own shadows,
feeding on scraps
and the spoils of an unnecessary war.

And through meditation,
and compassion toward others,
Elara became more powerful
than anyone could have possibly imagined
lost by them,
found by herself,
and recognised by others 
who unconditionally cared,
So she could live at last
a meaningful life.

#HealingThroughPoetry 🕊️
#QuietCourage 🌙
#IntegrityMatters 🔍
#BraveryAndResilience 💪
#CompassionTransforms ❤️