“God is Change.” — Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower

This month’s issue explores how individuals and societies navigate change, uncertainty, and transformation. Through poetry, essays, cultural criticism, artwork, fiction, and scholarship, these works examine what it means to stay human in a rapidly shifting world, while searching for meaning, connection, identity, and resilience.

Our issue starts with contributors looking directly into time, change, and transformation. Jacques Fleury speaks to seasons, renewal, and the passage of time. Patrick Sweeney’s monostich poems explore transitions, nostalgia, and fleeting but precious moments. J.K. Durick draws on airports as a metaphor for connection, disconnection, and transition. Roberta Beach Jacobson addresses identity, impermanence and transformation in her poetry. Nozimova Shukrona highlights how travel can facilitate personal growth, learning, and development. Tursunova Mehrinoz Oybek qiz outlines the process of self-discovery, career and intellectual development. Laskiaf Amortegui encourages readers to focus on the present and future, drawing on heartbreaks as catalysts for the future rather than letting romantic disappointment hold us back. Elaine Murray celebrates the warm, gentle beauty of the country on a spring day. Brian Barbeito speaks to the deep mystery of the sea as rendered through different works of literature, and to the continual change of seasons.

Other writers speak to love, longing, and human connection. Mesfakus Salahin reflects on the importance of love and freedom in a changing and fragile world. Joshua Obirija somehow misses a place he’s never been. Stephen Jarrell Williams expresses love, longing, nostalgia, imagination, and a sense of vulnerability. Milica Tomić begs a lover to return to her and renew the early days of their relationship. Yuldasheva Xadichaxon Bahodir qizi laments a lost love. Lan Xin speaks eloquent words of comfort to those living through romantic heartbreak. Eva Lianou Petropoulou rejoices in the power of love to overcome difficult situations. Soumen Roy’s poetry “Lonely River” is a reflective and introspective piece that explores themes of love, isolation, growth, and resilience. Kholboyev Mashrab offers love and respect to his caring mother. Abdusalomova Marjona Jahongir qizi celebrates a mother’s unconditional love. Polina Moys celebrates family, kindness, children, and gratitude for everyday blessings. Bakhadirova Rukhshona remembers the love of a caring grandfather figure. Saparboyeva Laylo Hajiboy kizi’s short story relates how mothering can bring people purpose and help them move forward after loss.

Some people engage in existential reflection and the search for meaning. J.J. Campbell’s lyrical works explore disillusionment, existential crisis, and the search for meaning in a decaying world. Jelena Jovanović illuminates existential crisis, nihilism, and the search for meaning. Sterling Warner’s poems rebel against conformity and consumerism, turning instead to inward spirituality. Sayani Mukherjee explores the concept of soul, the essence of a person, and of a society. Duane Vorhees’ poetry speaks to duality, paradox, repression and authenticity, and the subconscious and the power of nature. Daniel G. Snethen and Alex S. Johnson’s spider poem suggests that existence is cyclical, with life and death being intertwined and perpetual. Elena Nedelcu’s poems present a dreamlike, iridescent view of the world, speaking to self-discovery, love and connection, and spiritual searching.

Some look into war, violence, and historical memory. Alan Catlin’s work probes propaganda, wartime violence, and the “banality of evil” with destruction amidst cultural entertainment. Joseph C. Ogbonna critiques hubris through an epic take on Napoleon’s military downfall in the Russian winter. Marjona Karshiyeva Zoxidjon speaks to war, loss, and the longing for peace. Jernail S. Anand urges people to integrate the lessons of history into today rather than consigning historical figures to the past. Su Yun’s pieces point to the impact of violence on a child’s fragile psyche and the power of art to enhance resilience.

Still others explore themes of identity, society, and cultural critique. Ken Poyner touches on the fragility of relationships and social norms and the blurred lines between order and control. Mark Young’s intertextual work sends up a mishmash of names and identities, high and low culture. Alex S. Johnson critiques the propensity of the healthcare system to use its soft power to generate clinical narratives that can override patients’ lived realities. Later, he lampoons celebrity culture through an essay on the off-screen personality of Willem Dafoe. Hilola Sharipova reminds young would-be Internet influencers to focus on character rather than fame and appearance. Muslima Murodova reminds us to look beyond first impressions and avoid snap judgements in social situations.

Literature, art, and creativity are often important vehicles by which we hold onto and communicate our humanity amid change. Kobulova Madina outlines the types of heroes presented in Russian literature and how the concept of heroism has diversified in recent years. Harinder Cheema revels in the power of poetry to foster creativity and transcend cultural boundaries. Ozodbek Narzullayev honors the power of poetry and the calling of being a poet. Shahnoza Amanboyeva adds her thoughts to the question of artificial intelligence’s effects on artistic creativity. Dr. Reda Abdul Rahim compares themes of imagination and facing the unknown in Haruki Murakami’s Murder of the Commander and the ancient epic of Gilgamesh. Murtazoeva Shakhnozabonu advocates for youth to study classical Russian literature. Fhen M. celebrates and honors the lengthy heritage of literary and popular musical and literary culture in his evocative poem. Tuychiyeva Odinaxon Axmadjon qizi looks into how globalization and nationalism are simultaneously influencing Uzbek art. In an interview with poet Eva Lianou Petropoulou about his Hyperloop project, where he collects short poems from around the world, writer Alexander Kabishev discusses what he’s learned about innovation, collaboration, and perseverance.

Several writers look to education, language, and learning as facets of human creativity. Jumanazarova Nafisa speculates on the advantages of online vs offline education. Orinboyeva Sayyora and Maxliyoxon Yuldasheva discuss various pedagogical approaches to improving student communication in foreign languages. Soliyeva Dilshoda Tokhtamatjon qizi highlights ways to use fairy tales to improve language learners’ speech. Alimardonova Gulsevar Sirojiddinovna offers up a comparative analysis of terminology in English and Uzbek. Shohista Narzulla O’ktamova qizi discusses nouns and adjectives in Uzbek dialects. Norqizilova Layla outlines the potential roles for artificial intelligence in education. Feruza Otaboyeva suggests that students should volunteer for the sake of helping others, not just to pad their resumes.

Several of these writers focus on the transformation of society through labor, industry, and modernization. Rakhimova Dilafroʻz Axrorjon qizi explores the food industry as a living expression of Uzbek identity, showing how nourishment becomes a bridge between cultural continuity and modern commerce. Umarova Muattarxon Akromjon qizi similarly examines the garment industry as both a practical and symbolic force within Uzbekistan’s evolving economy, where tradition is stitched into the fabric of contemporary life. Oʻrinboyeva Ziynatjon’s discussion of big data expands this transition into the scientific and technological sphere, portraying a world increasingly shaped by information systems that redefine medicine, research, and communication. Kholdorova Durdona Odiljonovna looks deeper into medicine, outlining the physiological mechanism of inflammation. Muxtorov Xabibullo Kozimjon o‘g‘li discusses modern methods for reactive electrical power compensation. Nigora Tursunboyeva weighs the promises and dangers technology presents to younger generations, illuminating the tension between digital opportunity and emotional vulnerability. Jamilova Zaxro’s work on digital diplomacy further reflects a civilization adapting its oldest political practices to a rapidly interconnected world. Meanwhile, Jalolova Ruxshona Nosir qizi, Ubaydullayeva Fariza Sheraliyevna, and O‘rinboyeva Zarina Xabibullo qizi examine risk prediction and logistics modeling, emphasizing how modern societies increasingly rely upon technology and data to navigate uncertainty.

Yet transition is not only technological or economic; it is deeply moral and psychological. Nazarova Hamida turns toward the humanitarian wisdom of Uzbek poets Alisher Navoi and Abay Qunanbayuli, whose works remind readers that periods of change require compassion and ethical grounding. Hua Ai’s reflections in Quintessence similarly argue that meaningful social transformation begins within the self: before one changes the world, one must first confront one’s own consciousness. Zinnura Yo‘ldoshaliyeva explores the psychology of risk-taking, capturing the fragile threshold between fear and courage that accompanies every major life decision. Xasanova Aziza Kumushbek qizi encourages readers to resist the crushing weight of criticism and maintain dignity amid judgment, portraying resilience as an act of survival during moments of personal upheaval.

Many of these works also examine what it means to remain human within unstable environments. Hauwa Hassan Haruna presents one of the collection’s most striking paradoxes: women are often forced to become invisible for safety while simultaneously fighting to remain visible enough to claim dignity and rights. Erkinjonova Bibisora Elyorbek qizi offers another quiet portrait of vulnerability through her empathy for a lonely older man, suggesting how aging itself becomes a transition into isolation and invisibility. Bill Tope mourns the disappearance of inexpensive comic books and childhood treasures, tracing the painful shift from youthful abundance into nostalgic loss. His reflections remind readers that even ordinary objects become markers of changing eras.

Against these anxieties, several contributors seek refuge in tenderness, imagination, and connection with the natural world. Ananya S. Guha dissolves the boundaries between human beings and nature, envisioning love and belonging on a planet overshadowed by climate crisis. The poems suggest that humanity’s survival may depend upon rediscovering intimacy with the earth itself. Student works collected by Su Yun return readers to innocence through playful clouds and animals, preserving moments of wonder that adulthood often forgets. Christina Chin’s haiga, centered on kittens and their protective mother, offers an image of care and familial devotion amid uncertainty. Likewise, the poem by Chinese poet and music producer He Taiji portrays Lan Xin as a figure of serenity and kindness whose quiet presence becomes transformative for others, reminding readers that gentleness itself can guide people through periods of unrest.

The collection also celebrates the sustaining power of culture and community during times of transition. Rahmonova Dildora highlights the importance of cultural immersion in her piece where a traveler encounters the gentle sincerity of the Uzbek people, suggesting that identity is strengthened through openness rather than isolation. Yayra Erkin qizi Bo‘riyeva advocates for physical exercise, public competitions, and healthier urban design, envisioning communities that evolve not only economically but physically and socially. Her work imagines progress as something lived collectively through public space, movement, and shared participation.

Transition is both disruptive and necessary, integral to human and non-human nature. Even as it unsettles institutions and identities, change can open new possibilities for connection, awareness, and renewal. These works remind us that people endure, adapt, and continue searching for meaning while the world around them transforms.

Story

There was still time to get home. We had just taken a week’s vacation from school and were setting off with heavy bags. We sat down in a huddle, waiting for the bus. The bus was silent, except for the sound of car horns on the street. Everyone was busy with their own business, some playing on their phones, others leafing through newspapers.

At one point, two men in their fifties sat down on the benches, talking. Everyone seemed distracted since they got off. I quietly glanced in the direction where the voice was coming from. A woman in the front seat was looking around through the window, thinking, while the man behind her had been talking about something since he got off. She was wearing old, shabby, but apparently well-maintained clothes from the Soviet era. While the sun was shining brightly, this man seemed to never want to take off his warm clothes.

Even though two people got off at each stop, the passengers never seemed to end. The old man in front of me was still talking, laughing and sighing. It seemed that the woman had arrived at her stop, and she began to pack her things carefully. It seemed that all the passengers, who thought that Babajon was talking on the phone, also had the same thought in their minds, and they slowly looked at each other. I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt like he was talking to himself.

Just like the end of everything, our final destination was approaching. I had asked him himself that the old man didn’t even have any relatives, but I couldn’t even tell my friends about it. As people get older, they become more and more lonely. It was the first time I had met a person who had been ignored, and every time I think about it, my insides go cold.

Erkinjonova Bibisora ​​Elyorbek qizi. Born on January 18, 2012 in Uchkurgan district, Namangan region. Currently, she is an 8th grade student at the Ishoqkhon Ibrat creative school. She can communicate in English, Russian and French. In 2025, she traveled to Dubai.

/a/ woman conquest.

to be a woman. 

is a circle of being visible 

attention arrives, uninvited 

at the home front.

like a gentle dove,

she walks in silence, 

yet, she is ferocious,

to intruders. 

for dangers wears many faces. 

caution is her watchword.

she shrinks from retribution 

that the world is not a soft landing.

her fears see the future, 

for women are fragile mirrors 

they break easily. 

mortals roam without dystopia, 

but a woman world is not freedom 

her steps are calculative binaries. 

she endures the violence of unfenced territory. 

she lives without identity 

where no watches 

no warnings.

just her welding the sword of survival. 

she must survive where fears lingers like a apocalypse.

she is the sun that eclipse the moon. 

fighting everyday for a new dawn.

A Female’s Quiet Battle 

To be female 

has often meant 

to be seen before being known

attention arriving uninvited, 

everywhere. 

They call me quiet, 

an introvert wrapped in silence, 

yet even in stillness 

eyes find me. 

Before I speak, 

I am already felt— 

like heat on the back of the neck, 

like footsteps that never pass. 

Silence does not hide me. 

It only makes the staring louder

a weight pressing 

between my shoulders, 

refusing to lift. 

I walk with awareness stitched into my skin, 

a constant echo of be careful. 

For danger wears many faces, 

stories whispered 

about what could happen

if I am not cautious enough

There are fears I carry

standing to speak, 

finding my voice 

in rooms too loud, 

too watchful.

They say overcome it, 

but courage is not simple 

when fear has learned your name

They say a woman is fragile

as if strength cannot live

inside trembling hands, 

as if breaking is all we know. 

And so I shrink sometimes, 

not from weakness, 

but from knowing 

the world does not soften for me. 

I cannot choose recklessness 

and expect safety in return. 

Where others roam without thought, 

I measure my steps, 

I have learned to fold myself

not small, 

but precise

slipping through spaces 

without catching 

like fabric on a nail. 

Even my voice 

checks the room before it rises, 

testing the air 

like something that could burn. 

Freedom, for me, 

is not careless. 

It is the lit path, 

the crowded bus, 

the seat closest to the door 

a quiet math of staying safe. 

In those moments, 

I am both the one who fears 

and the one who guards

holding myself together 

with nothing but awareness 

They have called me fragile. 

But they have not seen 

how steady my hands remain 

when my heart is running, 

how I keep walking 

when every instinct says turn back. 

Still, I move. 

Not freely

but forward.

And if I am watched, 

if I am measured, 

if I must carry this constant knowing

then I will become 

unmissable in another way: 

not the girl who shrinks, 

not the shadow that passes 

but the voice of a woman

that remained

despite the fear. 

This is a poem by Hauwa Hassan Haruna, I am an upcoming artist, who fell in love with the literary space and trying to find her own place and voice. I have a post graduate degree in international relations and as an aspiring diplomat, I wish to convey message through writing.

Hauwa Hassan Haruna writes from Minna, Nigeria. She holds a B.A and M.A International studies and diplomacy from Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai. When she is not writing, she travels and loves to cook. 

The Rise of Internet Stars and the Reality Behind the Screen

Today, the internet has moved far beyond being a simple means of communication and has become an essential part of human life and a vast information space. With just a phone, a person can become known to the whole world and gain the attention of millions. In the past, it took years of hard work to achieve fame, whereas today even a few seconds of video can turn someone into an internet star.

In this way, a new generation known as “internet stars” has emerged. They are becoming increasingly influential in today’s society. Young people admire their style of dressing, way of speaking, and lifestyle. Social media further enhances this fame by presenting an attractive image: expensive cars, luxurious living, constant smiles, and apparent success draw people in. However, the reality behind the screen is not always visible.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of internet stars is that they appear closer and more relatable to ordinary people than traditional celebrities. Through daily videos, live streams, and posts, followers feel as if they personally know them. This creates a strong emotional connection. As a result, internet influencers can shape opinions, trends, and even people’s dreams.

Internet stars also have a positive side. Some of them encourage people to study, learn languages, and engage in sports. Others raise awareness about social issues such as environmental protection, charity, education, and mental health. Many young people have found motivation and inspiration through online creators who share useful knowledge and life experiences. In this sense, the internet has become a field of great opportunities where talent can be discovered regardless of background or social status.

Moreover, the internet has opened doors for creativity and self-expression. People who once had no opportunity to share their talents can now present their art, music, writing, or ideas to a global audience. This has made the modern world more connected and dynamic. Some internet stars even use their influence to support charitable projects and help communities in need.

Nevertheless, there is another side to the issue. Today, many people consider fame to be the same as success. Some internet stars resort to showing a fake life, creating artificial personas, or using emotions merely to increase followers and views. In many cases, the content people see online is carefully edited and designed to appear perfect. Expensive lifestyles, luxurious vacations, and endless happiness may not reflect reality at all.

What is even more concerning is that young people often perceive this as real life and genuine achievement. They begin comparing themselves with unrealistic standards and may feel dissatisfied with their own lives. Some become obsessed with gaining likes, followers, and online attention instead of focusing on education, personal growth, and real relationships. This can negatively affect confidence, mental health, and values.

As a result, it sometimes seems that a person’s online image has become more important than their inner world and true identity. Many people, instead of preserving their authenticity, try to create an image that pleases others. Artificiality is gradually becoming normal. In the race for popularity, honesty and sincerity are sometimes sacrificed.

Another important issue is that internet fame is often temporary. Trends change quickly, and public attention can disappear overnight. A person who is admired today may be forgotten tomorrow. Therefore, building one’s entire identity around online popularity can be dangerous and unstable. Real success should be based on knowledge, character, kindness, and contribution to society rather than temporary internet attention.

In reality, fame does not make a person great. A person’s true value is measured by their manners, thinking, honesty, and contribution to society. The number of followers is temporary, whereas humanity is an enduring value. A kind and educated person who helps others leaves a far more meaningful impact than someone who is only popular online.

In conclusion, internet stars have become an inseparable part of modern society. They can have both positive and negative effects depending on how they use their influence and how people respond to them. The most important thing is that individuals should not lose their identity while using the internet and should pursue meaning, knowledge, and values rather than appearance alone. Trends pass, fame is forgotten, but a person’s true character and good deeds remain forever.

Hilola Sharipova was born on June 30, 2007, in Urganch, Khorezm region, Uzbekistan. She is a student at Urganch Ranch Technology University, majoring in Economics. She has a strong interest in economics and banking activities.

She is also actively involved in sports, particularly handball. She is the winner of 1st place in the Uzbekistan Championship in handball. In addition to sports, she is interested in poetry and literature. Her book titled “Dadamnı sog‘inib” has been published.

Hilola knows two languages, English and Turkish, and she holds certificates in both languages. She is a very talented and ambitious individual with a wide range of interests and achievements.

 POETS (Shoirlar)

Those who burn themselves for the world’s pain, 

The awakening of conscience, the soul’s cry. 

Slicing their own hearts with a blade, 

Dervishes of the word, beggars of the word.

They carve their very soul onto a simple paper, 

Burning like a candle at night, fading at dawn. 

While everyone laughs, they weep silently, 

Accepting grief as their destined crown.

They perceive the universe in a different light, 

In the autumn leaves, they see the grief of parting. 

They whisper a tale into the ear of the grass, 

The sorrow of the earth that you pass by, unknowing.

Sometimes burning in the fire like Mashrab, 

Sometimes awaiting the dawn like Cholpon. 

Those who could not speak the truth to the world, 

Passed through, swallowing their pain all along.

A poet’s only wealth is a single pen, 

One white sheet of paper is their everything. 

The agony of the heart transferred into lines, 

The lamp of faith, in the darkness, shimmering.

They are reborn only after they die, 

Their breath lives on within the pages of books. 

A poet is the chain that is called the Truth, 

The voice of freedom, no matter how it looks.

My pen trembles too, as I sit and write, 

Perhaps it is destiny, or perhaps a sting. 

When a poor poet passes from this world, 

Their words remain, a bright and glowing thing.

Ozodbek Narzullayev was born in the village of Boston, Koson district, Kashkadarya region. Several of his poems have been published in various anthologies and international journals. He has actively participated in numerous creative competitions, earning honorary titles and prestigious awards. He is the recipient of over 100 diplomas and certificates. 

Currently, he serves as the Koson district leader of the “Yuksak Parvozim” (My High Flight) project. He is also the author of the published poetry collection titled “Qalb Kechinmalari” (Experiences of the Soul).

Technology and Youth: Advantages and Disadvantages

Today, technology has become an essential part of our lives. Especially among young people, smartphones, the internet, and social media are widely used. This situation has both positive and negative sides.
First of all, technology expands opportunities for learning. It is now easy to find information on any topic, attend online classes, and develop new skills through the internet. For example, many young people learn foreign languages using mobile apps and videos. This increases their future opportunities.

At the same time, technology is very convenient for communication. People can easily stay in touch with friends and family, share ideas, and keep up with the latest news even from a distance.
However, technology also has its downsides. One of the biggest problems is wasting time. Many young people spend hours on social media instead of studying or doing useful activities. Moreover, excessive use of smartphones can harm health, causing problems such as eye strain and sleep disorders.

Another important issue is addiction. Some young people become too dependent on technology and lose interest in real-life communication. This can negatively affect their social development.
In conclusion, technology is a powerful tool. Using it wisely and in moderation can be beneficial, but overuse can be harmful. Every young person should learn how to use technology responsibly.