Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123236294-unheard
What do a teenage girl’s scribbles in the margins of a diary and the echo of ancient mythological women have in common?
Apparently, quite a lot—if you ask Unheard, Bhavini Bhargava’s astonishing debut poetry collection.
Have you ever sat by a window on a rainy day and felt like the clouds knew exactly what you were going through? That’s what reading Unheard feels like: raw, personal, eerily familiar, and somehow, universal. You might pick it up expecting youthful musings, but you’ll stay because somewhere in the verses, your younger self quietly nods.
Written between the ages of fifteen and nineteen, Bhargava’s poems span the fierce hope of beginnings to the quiet ache of endings. Divided into seven thematic sections, the collection travels from the bold optimism of Against All Odds and Starting from Scratch, to the gut-punch truths of The Last Straw, and finally to the reflective shores of Thoughts by the Lake. That’s not just poetic structure—it’s emotional cartography.
Let’s talk themes. Divine Presence offers spiritual whispers that feel more like intimate conversations than grand declarations. “Energy,” for example, doesn’t just invoke a higher power—it reverberates with the kind of soul-hug you didn’t know you needed. And then, there’s Loving Another Soul, where Bhargava exposes the beautiful, awkward, slow-motion trainwreck we call love. From starry-eyed beginnings to the banal rhythms of routine to the gutting silence after it ends—it’s all here, painted in verses as tender as a bruised apple.
Ever lost yourself in the hustle of adulting? Passionately Passionate takes that disorientation and spins it into poetry. “My Worth” in particular should come with a tissue warning and a standing ovation. And just when you think you’ve dried your tears, along comes The Last Straw—poems that don’t just walk into the shadows of mental illness and grief, but sit there with you, holding your hand. “Was It All Worth” isn’t a poem; it’s a mirror. A eulogy. A gut-punch.
Then there’s Stigma. Imagine Draupadi from the Mahabharata sitting across from Nirbhaya in a modern-day courtroom. One judged by gods and men; the other by headlines and hashtags. Bhargava dares to draw the line between them—and it’s haunting, timely, and necessary. It isn’t just poetry; it’s protest.
The final piece, “Final Judgement,” doesn’t close the book—it lights a match. It challenges you to stop spectating and start participating in your own life. Because, as Bhargava seems to suggest, the real tragedy isn’t failing; it’s never trying.
And the doodles? They’re not illustrations—they’re co-conspirators. They echo the poems’ emotions with charming simplicity, proving that sometimes a scribble can say what even a stanza cannot.
Unheard is not a quiet debut. It’s a roaring one. Bhavini Bhargava doesn’t just write poems—she opens veins. Her stream-of-consciousness style isn’t just accessible; it’s disarming. You don’t read Unheard as much as you feel it.
This isn’t just a book of poetry—it’s a coming-of-age mixtape set to the rhythms of heartbreak, resistance, faith, and fire. If you’ve ever lived, loved, or lost—you’ll find yourself somewhere in these pages.
Atlas of Stories Award
This book is a recipient of the Atlas of Stories Award, an accolade that celebrates works mapping the literary world with creativity and depth. Aligned with our mission of “Mapping the World Through Books,” this award honors stories that inspire, educate, and entertain while transcending cultural and imaginative borders. These remarkable narratives explore universal themes, fostering connection and understanding as they take readers on a journey through the richness of global storytelling.
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