First, a few announcements.
Sandra Tabac invites poetry and art submissions for an international Hands of Love anthology.

Also, The Arab Poets Forum has recently published the book “Alphabet of Pain… Letters Bleeding Meaning”, a remarkable poetic encyclopedia featuring 212 poets from around the world, presented in two volumes spanning 800 pages.

The cover artwork is created by Iraqi visual artist Nada Askar, and the cover design is by Lebanese artist Layla Beiz Al-Mashghariya. Several Synchronized Chaos contributors, including Taghrid Bou Merhi, Mirta Ramirez, Eva Petropoulou Lianou, Dildora Xojyozova, Binod Dawadi, and Kujtim R Hajdari, are published in this collection.

Now, for this month’s first issue, Where Memory Meets Tomorrow.

This issue is beautiful, rich, and international. There’s a strong throughline of memory, devotion, identity, and renewal running across continents and genres.

For this month’s first issue, we are proud to present a collection of voices that span styles and topics, each offering a meditation on what it means to live, remember, and hope.

Vo Thi Nhu Mai opens with a heartfelt tribute to her mother, honoring the quiet love and lifelong dedication of a teacher. From Uzbekistan, Orzigul Ibragimova calls her people forward with intelligence and determination, while Namozova Sarvinoz Erkin qizi explores the nation’s ongoing transformation toward an eco-friendly, energy-efficient future. Sevara Abduxalilova reflects on the legacy of Mirzo Ul’ugbek, the great Central Asian astronomer whose vision still resonates across time, as Botirova Gulsevar Muzaffar qizi honors political leader and poet Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, known for promoting education and national development. Munisa Islomjonova celebrates her native Uzbekistan through verse.

The power of words themselves comes into focus in Harinder Cheema’s celebration of poets as messengers of peace and inspiration, echoed by Soumen Roy’s prayer to poetry as a source of healing and transcendence. Jamoliddinova Dilnozaxon Mirhojiddinovna discusses how countries and social groups form communication and speech traditions. Olimova Shahina Botirjon qizi discusses strengths and weaknesses of different methods for teaching foreign languages. Hamdamova Sevara Saidmurodovna outlines modern philological theory about the power of language beyond literal meaning. Türkan Ergör sharpens her focus to highlight the pain of a world without trust and truth. Rev. Dr. Jitender Singh speaks to human unity across race, color, nationality, or creed. Manik Chakraborty and Mesfakus Salahin and Mahbub Alam each issue urgent calls for peace, reminding us of our shared humanity in a fractured world. Graciela Noemi Villaverde depicts the pain of words felt but never sent. Christina Margeti speaks to war and childhood, what humanity destroys and what we strive to protect. Faleeha Hassan reviews Saudi directors Meshal Al-Jaser and stars Adwaa Badr and Yazeed Al-Majioul’s film “Naga” (Purity) which, through the tragedy of a betrayed and rebellious young woman, shows the weight of a society imploding upon itself as it punishes the existence of femininity. Asadullo Habibullayev brings violence down to a smaller scale, reminding us that how we treat each other at the interpersonal level matters. At the same time, poet Nilavronill decries how poets have failed to stop the world’s violence with their words.

Themes of love and devotion weave throughout the issue. Sandro Piedracita reflects on the distinction between selfless love and possessiveness, while Eva Petropoulou Lianou honors the tender, enduring bond between mother and child. Nazokat Jumaniyozova offers a moving elegy for her grandfather, and Danijela Ćuk pays tribute to Eva Petropoulou’s tireless support of fellow writers. Saparboyeva Laylo Xajibay qizi relates a folktale-like story of grief, justice, fate and renewal. Joseph Ogbonna expresses his spiritual devotion in the Easter season and his thanks for Christ’s humble sacrifice. Maqsudova Anora Alisherovna’s poem urges heartfelt sincerity and reflection when people observe Ramadan. Sarvinoz Bakhtiyorova relates the tale of a now-adult son who sacrificed his own body for his mother. Jahongir Murodov expresses his tender care and respect for his mother. Xojamurodova Nigina urges sensitive souls to continue loving and not lose heart in a brutal world as Ms. Kim Sun Young shares how longing for a lost love is persistent, like a weed in her heart and Do’sanova Dilnoza Xolmurod qizi reflects on heartbreak and regret.

Other contributors turn toward time, myth, and the natural world. Ananya Guha evokes deep, mythic landscapes, while Sayani Mukherjee and Lan Xin draw on the imagery of spring—its motion, memory, and rebirth. Ankica Anchie Biskupović finds unity in flowing water, and Elaine Murray immerses herself in nature’s quiet revelations. Ms. Koo Myongsook reflects in stillness on a mountain as a metaphor for life. David Kokoette’s desert journey and Duane Vorhees’ meditation on absence and longing remind us of the inner landscapes we all traverse. Maja Milojkovic laments the steady decline of her powers due to old age. Aziza Jorayeva expresses heartbreak, loneliness, and grief. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai speaks to autumn, night, longing, and confession. Siyoung Doung expresses the mystery of our existence and the beauty of finding small moments of beauty and meaning. Dr. Tomasz Laczek urges us to make the most of the lives we have and live for something that matters.

This issue also engages with contemporary life and its tensions. Abdumaxamediva Gulchexra looks at the positive and negative effects of American cultural influence on traditional Uzbek culture. Patricia Doyne sharply critiques the current U.S. administration, while Bill Tope employs satire to confront its institutional excess and brutality. J.K. Durick reflects on individuals navigating vast, impersonal systems, even systems invented for fun, such as professional sports, engaged yet estranged. Peter Cherches plays the absurdist blues for us in his poem that’s equal parts exile ballad, street song, and darkly comic cabaret. Christopher Bernard kicks off the first installment of his children’s story Otherwise, with a mixture of philosophy, mystery, and middle-grade energy.

Science, education, and personal determination appear in compelling ways. Urokova Nargiza discusses ways to protect against new types of viruses. Jorakulova Gulshoda Uchqun qizi examines disease detection through the lens of blood cell analysis, while Abduhalilova Sevdora Xayrulla qizi advocates for reconnecting physical education with nature. Nabiyeva Xilolaxon Axrorjon qizi discusses how to make fuel composition less toxic and more environmentally sustainable. Choriyeva Oynur analyzes the role of music in helping students concentrate and learn. Anarboeva Madina Ulmas qizi highlights her accomplishments in the Uzbek national sport of kurash. Laylo Yo’lbarsova highlights the role of personality in determining suitability for different careers. Priyanka Neogi asserts her self-determination, strength, self-respect, and independence. Maxsudbekova Farogat Izzatbek qizi valorizes self-assurance, personal dignity, and individuality. Toshmamatov Javohir tells a story of perseverance through the journey of a computer science student, Jumayev Akmal G’ulom o’g’li discusses ways to get young people more involved in shaping the future of Uzbekistan and to help them take their place in the workplace, and Gulhayo Abduqahhorova considers the choices that shape life after college.

Artistic memory and cultural reflection round out the issue. Mark Young presents his signature altered geographies, while Brian Michael Barbeito revisits the world of hockey through personal recollection. Mykyta Ryzhykh captures the intensity of first awakenings—moments that divide life into before and after. Jacques Fleury offers a haunting vision of beauty, resilience, and power embodied in a goddess who still fades from view while he can only watch. Ms. Im Sol Nae looks at death not merely as an ending, but as a transformation, a communal aesthetic experience.

Finally, editor Cristina Deptula contributes a review of No One Dreams in Color by John Biscello, a work that meditates on consciousness, grief, the creative process, and the fragile boundary between reality and imagination.

Together, these works form a tapestry of voices, which are urgent, reflective, and deeply human. They remind us that across distance and difference, we are united by our search for meaning, our capacity for love, and our enduring hope for renewal.

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The Wind Song 

Wind sings a song to me.

Sweet music to my soul.

Take me to the spirit world of Mother Earth.

To lie down on the sandy beach .

With waves flowing over my body and face.

I want to stay  under the water.

Touch the rhythms of the starfish and dolphins .

The essence of another world.

I cry out to the water world.

Take me, sing to me.

Hold me close and dance with me.

The music of the land sings loud .

I’m being split apart .

A force grows into me like a Titan .

Crashes take place within me,

At last I’m back lying on the sand.

The sweet music grows within me.

A divine calm takes hold .

Yellow Flowing Fields 

I miss the yellow fields flowing with the wind. 

My beautiful wild flowers are swaying in the wind.

Dancing for me.

I look up at the sky.

With white clouds flowing so peacefully .

  Just me nature and the blowing of the wind.

Heaven Rainbow

Heaven open your colors to me.

With blue sky painted with touches of yellow, red, gold and black of night.

Gold is for Kings and Queens of noble birth.

Red is for the torch that brightens the sky.

Black is for the mystery of another world hidden in the stars that guides ships

of long ago.

See for yourself how the blue sky sends flying wings to the kingdom in the sky.

I wish I could see the shooting star that burst into flames that color the sky.

Elaine Murray

2002

”  The Algorithm of Will  “

As twilight fell over the busy streets of Tashkent, Zohid sat under the flickering lights of a student dormitory in Chilonzor, tiredly tapping away at his laptop keys. While his roommates had already finished dinner and dived into computer games or endless social media videos, Zohid was battling complex red error messages on his screen. For this young man from the province, life felt like a bridge between two worlds: on one side were the high hopes of his parents back in the village, and on the other, the ruthless demands of the modern IT world.

One day, an uncle who worked in an influential organization called him with an unexpected offer. He promised a significant share of money and a comfortable life until graduation in exchange for simply “closing” a government project. Although Zohid had only 20,000 soums left in his wallet and was wondering what to eat for lunch, and this offer seemed like a “lifesaving ship,” he remembered the lessons he had studied during long nights and why he entered this field. “I’m sorry, uncle, I didn’t come here to close someone else’s ready-made project; I came to build a system from scratch,” he replied firmly. Thus, Zohid’s true test began.

He started freelancing on international platforms, relying on coffee during daytime classes and writing code for foreign clients at night. One night, when the power went out, he took his laptop to a corner of a 24/7 cafe and spent the dawn with a single cup of tea—days like these further sharpened his will. Six months later, at a major startup competition at the university, he presented his agricultural digitalization algorithm, the product of those sleepless nights. His uncle, sitting among the jury, looked away as he realized that Zohid was not a “template-user” but a true “creator.”

Zohid won not only the grand prize but also a job offer from a prestigious American company. Riding the bus home that day, he felt with his entire being that true capital is knowledge; while money and connections are fleeting, a foundation built through hard work serves for a lifetime. He was no longer just a student; he had become a steadfast architect of his own future, staying true to his principles.

Uzbekistan

Toshmamatov Javohir     

The Vegetative Nature of Longing

Even when erased,

Even when erased again,

It reappears like a crescent moon,

Grows beyond a half-moon,

Becomes a full moon.

Like a face

Drifting as a full moon,

People hang

The space of longing

In their hearts.

Love,

Even when one tries to forget,

Has a terrifying vegetative nature—

It reveals itself, it grows.

That is why tonight is a full moon.

그리움의 식물성

지워도

지워도

생기는 초승달같이

반달에서 더 자란

만월같이

만월로 둥실

걸린

얼굴같이

사람들은 그리움 공간을

가슴에 걸어 두지요

사랑은 

잊으려 하여도

드러나고 자라나는 무서운 

식물성이 있어요

그래서 오늘밤 만월이에요

Poet Kim Sun-Young was born on May 17, 1938, in Kaesong, Gyeonggi Province. She graduated from Sudo Women’s Teachers College and later served as a teacher at Sudo Girls’ Middle School and as a professor at Sejong University. In 1962, she made her literary debut in Hyundae Munhak(Modern Literature) after her poems Bluebird, Echo, and Graffiti of the Seasons were recommended for publication. She was also an active member of the literary coterie Cheongmi (靑眉). Since the publication of her first poetry collection, Saga (思歌), in 1969, she has published 15 poetry collections, including The Shoe Store of Emptiness (1972), Wildflower Ritual (1976), Atmosphere of Fantasy (1976), Words Written at Night (1982), God Who Lives in the Lilac Tree (1983), Song of Longing (1987), and To Shatter (2008). She has received numerous literary awards, including the Contemporary Poetry Award and the Korean Literature Award. She has also served as an advisory board member of the Korean Poets Association and the Korean Women Writers’ Association, as well as a member of the International PEN Korea Center.

That Letter I Don’t Write 

A bridge of words that never crosses the river, 

White sheets stored in drawers of silence, 

Ink frozen in the heart of the pen, 

A message that sails between 

what is said and what is felt. 

Memories folded like old paper, 

Voices that whisper in each empty line, 

Distance, an ocean without ships, 

Hands that imagine what the envelope will look like. 

Phrases that are born and die in the throat, 

Time that is written on invisible margins, 

Feelings, stones that sink into the soul, 

A letter, a tree that grows where there is no soil. 

Eyes that weep letters that never form, 

An embrace that travels in each written sigh, 

Truth that waits on the threshold of the page, 

Words that sleep in the pocket of memory. 

GRACIELA NOEMI VILLAVERDE is a writer and poet from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Rios) Argentina, based in Buenos Aires She graduated in letters and is the author of seven books of poetry, awarded several times worldwide. She works as the World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers and is the UHE World Honorary President of the same institution’s Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She is the Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet in the Educational and Social Relations Division of the UNACCC South America – Argentina Chapter.

Choriyeva Oynur

Uzbek State World Language University, Faculty of English Philology, 2nd-year student

The Impact of Music on Study Efficiency

Choriyeva Oynur

Uzbek State World Language University

English Philology Faculty, 2nd-year student

Annotation.

This article explores how music influences students’ study efficiency. It discusses the positive effects of listening to music—such as improved concentration, reduced stress, and enhanced mood—and examines how different types of music affect learning outcomes. The article also highlights potential disadvantages, including distraction and decreased focus when listening to high-tempo or lyrical music. The aim is to identify how students can use music as a supportive tool to improve academic performance.

Key words: music, concentration, study efficiency, cognitive skills, learning, memory, productivity, supportive tool,academic performance.

Introduction.

Music plays a deeply influential role in the everyday lives of young people, particularly students who rely on it not only for entertainment, but also as a powerful tool for relaxation, motivation, and emotional balance. In academic settings, many students turn to music to create a comfortable study environment, improve their mood, or reduce stress during demanding learning tasks.

Scientific research supports these observations, showing that music can activate several key regions of the brain involved in attention, memory formation, and emotional regulation. For example, certain types of music stimulate neural pathways that enhance concentration and support cognitive processing, allowing learners to engage more effectively with their academic work.

Main Body.

Music is a universal language that connects people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Beyond serving as a source of entertainment, it also functions as an effective therapeutic tool, influencing human emotions and cognitive processes. Researchers note that music activates the hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for generating attachment-related emotions, which allows music to support social bonding and emotional connection (Koelsch, 2014). Additionally, music encompasses a wide range of genres, each with its own structure, rhythm, and characteristics. Because every genre appeals to different preferences, the influence of music varies from one individual to another.

The impact of music on students’ concentration and attention span has long been debated. Although many students believe that listening to music makes studying more enjoyable, psychological research suggests that music may sometimes be more distracting than beneficial (Mercer, 2021). However, due to the widespread use of music among high school and university students, understanding its role in learning has become increasingly important.

This research emphasizes the relationship between music and concentration, exploring how musical preferences, cultural background, and genre differences shape students’ study habits. The findings highlight that the effects of music are not universal—what helps one student focus may distract another. Therefore, evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks of listening to music during study sessions is essential for improving concentration and academic performance. Since current evidence across studies remains inconclusive, further research is needed to draw clearer conclusions about how music influences learning efficiency.

1. Positive Effects of Music

Many students say that music helps them during their study sessions. One of the main reasons is that it can improve concentration. Soft and slow music in the background reduces outside noise and helps students stay focused on their tasks for a longer time.

Music can also lower stress and anxiety, which is very common among students, especially during exams or when deadlines are close. Calming music makes the study environment more comfortable and helps students feel more relaxed.

Another important benefit is that music can boost mood and motivation. When students listen to songs they enjoy, they often feel more energetic and willing to continue studying. A good mood usually leads to better productivity.

Some studies also suggest that certain types of music can support memory and learning. For example, instrumental tracks can help students stay calm, which may make it easier to remember information.

2. Negative Effects of Music

However, music does not always help. In some cases, it can even make studying more difficult. The biggest problem is that songs with lyrics can be distracting. When a student is reading or writing, the words in the music compete with the text, and this reduces comprehension.

Another issue is loud or fast music, which can interrupt concentration. High-energy music makes it harder to focus on tasks that require deep thinking or careful analysis.

Finally, some students become too dependent on music while studying. This can cause problems later in situations where they are required to work in complete silence, such as during exams or in quiet classrooms.

3. Best Types of Music for Studying

Researchers generally recommend types of music that are calm and do not include lyrics. These include:

Classical music, especially gentle piano pieces

Lo-fi beats, which have a steady rhythm and are not distracting

Instrumental piano music

Nature sounds, such as rain or ocean wave

Ambient or meditation music, which helps create a peaceful atmosphere

These styles help students stay focused while avoiding unnecessary distractions.

Conclusion.

When used wisely, music can significantly boost study efficiency. Soft, instrumental tracks help students stay focused, improve attention, and feel calmer during study sessions. They can also reduce stress and create a more comfortable learning environment. On the other hand, loud or lyric-heavy music may distract students and make it harder to concentrate on tasks that require deep thinking. By selecting the right type of music for their needs, learners can enhance productivity, retain information more effectively, and achieve better academic results.

References:

1. Hallam, S. (2010). The Power of Music.

2. Jäncke, L. (2008). Music, Memory, and Emotion.

3. University of Maryland Medical Center – Stress Reduction Research.

4. Stanford University School of Medicine – Music and Brain Studies.

A Goddess Intervenes 

In Honor of My Mother, International Women’s Day and the #MeToo Movement 

by Jacques Fleury

[From Fleury’s Boston Globe featured book Sparks in the Dark: A Lighter Shade of Blue, A Poetic Memoir]

Through my senses, 
I see sadly her unaffected gazes 
Her intrigue’s absences 
Her relationship to relationships 
Slowly and softly bending 
Like two birds sharing a stem 
The thin branch softly bending 
Sighs with her burden; 
Trapped in discontentment 
Like Winter’s malevolence, 
But she found in her a weather of resilience, 
The sounds of her heels on the stoical pavement echoes like 

her laughter in the desert paths of remembrance 
She throws her head back and laughs 
As young men beg for a chance to kill her lack of chance 
Her essence glowing like the moon in starless skies 
She like a picturesque whirl like a slow-moving storm, 
Slowly rushes into a room 
Smiles in recognition of her adulation 
Then sways her hips ever so lovingly 
Among the artful debris 
And cocks her head as if to hear the dead 
Extending her left ear to face the light 
Oblivious to the presence of a challenge 
Waiting to hear words to confirm her rights 
And a tear from the moon falls into her eyes 
Then in her benediction glows 
Then in her benediction grows 
So she opens her mouth and blows a hue of winter, 
But sometimes she opens her mouth and blows a hue of summer, 
Depending on the noisiest weather! 
One day she opened her eyes in horror 
To see the moon a reddish color! 
To see her world of beauty in fury 
crumbling around her like a fallen deity 
So then she crumbles too; 
Having been made of snow, 
The wrath of the wind broke through her window, 
then there she lies like the ashes of winter, 
succumbed to the intemperate weather, 
Then I watch her die, beautifully die. 

Jacques Fleury is a Boston Globe featured Haitian American Poet, Educator, Author of four books and literary arts student at Harvard University online. His latest publication “You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self” & other titles are available at all Boston Public Libraries, the University of Massachusetts Healey Library, University of Wyoming, Askews and Holts Library Services in the United Kingdom, The Harvard Book Store, The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, Amazon etc… He has been published in prestigious publications such as Spirit of Change Magazine, Wilderness House Literary Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Litterateur Redefining World anthologies out of India, Poets Reading the News, the Cornell University Press anthology Class Lives: Stories from Our Economic Divide, Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene among others…Visit him at:  http://www.authorsden.com/jacquesfleury.–