Life is full of challenges, and everyone faces moments when the path forward seems uncertain. During these difficult times, one of the strongest forces that helps us continue is hope. Hope is more than just a feeling; it is a guiding light that gives us the strength to keep moving even when everything seems dark.
When people go through hardships such as loss, failure, or loneliness, hope reminds them that tomorrow can be better. It allows us to believe in new beginnings and motivates us to work toward them. Without hope, even the smallest obstacles can feel overwhelming, but with hope, even the greatest challenges become bearable.
Hope is not blind optimism. It does not ignore reality, but rather teaches us to face it with courage. It inspires creativity, resilience, and patience. A hopeful person can turn problems into opportunities for growth, because hope provides the energy to search for solutions instead of giving up.
In my own life, I have found that hope often comes from the people I love and from the goals I set for myself. Whenever I have felt discouraged, remembering my dreams and the support around me has given me the courage to try again. Each small step forward becomes easier when hope is present in my heart.
Hope is like a seed planted deep within us. With care and faith, it grows stronger every day, even in the hardest seasons. For me, hope is not only a personal strength but also a gift I want to share with others. By encouraging and supporting each other, we can spread hope and remind the world that no night lasts forever—the dawn always comes.
Contributor Abigail George would like to share a new project of hers: a blog called Mentally Sound that features articles, updates, a magazine, poetry, and uplifting music. In this day and age, so many things can affect our mental health. Please feel free to join the blog and blog about your own experiences or loving someone who has a mood disorder or an individual who is suffering from depression. Log in, blog, do read the posts and leave comments to inspire our growing community!
For we are all bound in stories, and as the years pile up they turn to stone, layer upon layer, building our lives. – Steven Erikson
This month’s contributions deal with the complexities of nature, history, culture, language, or even the psyche of a single person. Everything we choose or experience builds upon itself to make us who we are, even short-lived experiences.
Yucheng Tao’s poetry collection April No Longer Comes,published by Alien Buddha Press and reviewed by Cristina Deptula, explores moments of love and beauty that are wonderful and transient, like the season of spring. Sean Lee’s poems remind us that even fleeting moments can be meaningful and beautiful. Jian Yeo’s poetry touches on the pain and beauty we can find in mortality. Mykyta Ryzhykh contributes surreal images of life, death, and the cycle of modern existence. John Grey’s poetry explores comings and goings, presences and disappearances.
Yoonji Huh presents nature, family tenderness, and humor with a color scheme that looks historical and weathered. Gwil James Thomas speaks in several tough-minded pieces to memories and dreams and our sources of inspiration. Sean Lee’s artwork evokes the power of the imagination to illuminate daily life. Alina Lee’s poetry suggests that our pasts and futures comprise layers of each moment in which we find ourselves. JK Kim’s poetry looks at summer scenes with a calm nostalgia, after events have passed. Alexis Lee’s poems probe what we choose to value and remember, what we invest in and find beautiful. Olivia Koo probes the nature of memory, how multiple moments combine to craft a mental impression and feeling. Ah-Young Dana Park’s poetry comments on our changing memories and perspectives as time passes and we age. Chloe Park’s art revels in exquisite detail, probing culture and memory with intricacy. Sally Lee provides poetic snapshots of moments in time, considering whether they have meaning or value without context.
Seoyun Park’s visuals speak to how we observe and confront life, the dangers we face and those we pose. Ethan Lee’s poems remind us of the underside of our world: the everyday grotesque and the many layers of the ordinary. Irene Kim’s work explores the strain and melancholy that can permeate ordinary moments. Austin Chung’s poetry illustrates various kinds of disorder and dispersion as Taylor Dibbert vents his annoyance at the common problem of loud museum patrons. Lauren Kim stays with a single scene from everyday life for an entire poem, probing its layers. Haeun Regina Kim’s poetry examines ordinary objects and animals in depth, sharing details and language to create an off-kilter feel.
Brian Barbeito also explores deeply, focusing in on the flora and fauna of an Aruba resort. Debabarata Sen celebrates the verdant beauty of Costa Rica. David Sapp’s poetic speakers become waylaid by the arresting color and beauty of nature. Dylan Hong’s pieces present a gentle, abstract, even whimsical peek at nature. Grace Lee’s poetry crafts dreamlike, gentle, floating scenes. Terry Trowbridge’s pieces on peach harvests evoke the challenging economics and natural realities of farming. Mahbub Alam reminds us of the innate rough wildness of nature: storms, volcanoes, huge predators.
Sayani Mukherjee evokes the rhythm of a public piano played for big city pedestrians in a rainstorm. Eva Petropoulou Lianou waxes poetic about the beauty of the moon. Noriniso Kasimova shares memories of spring in her hometown and her father’s love. Chinese poet Su Yun collects a group of short poems from elementary school students, mostly impressions of natural scenes. Dhani M.’s artwork stylizes natural scenes to create emotional senses of calm, curiosity, and wonder. Jinwoo Brian Park’s art suggests that we can re-incorporate the old into the new, the natural into the artificial.
Mark Young contributes a fresh set of fanciful geographies. G. Emil Reutter humorously describes noisy construction’s impact on local residents. Erin Kim’s artwork explores the upsides and downsides of civilization’s technological progress. Katie Hong’s work critiques our isolation and obsession with technology as Xushnudbek Yakubov warns of the dangers of online misinformation. Sophie Yoon’s art critiques our complex relationship with consumption and the natural world. Eugene Han’s art explores who we are and where we’re going as humans, and our relationships with nature. Shabbona Abdurashidova highlights the importance of sustainable ecology in Uzbekistan. Jahin Claire Oh’s work speculates on how the world’s other creatures might see us: mimicking and learning from them, drifting into or penetrating their environments.
J.K. Durick speaks to new, wild, and real frontiers in modern nature and technology, commenting on our efforts to understand and control them. Pulkita Anand evokes the mental and physical disorientation brought on by the colonization of one’s land.
Ahmed Miqdad calls the world to action to help suffering civilians in Gaza. Patricia Doyne also calls the world’s attention to starvation in Gaza. Stephen Jarrell Williams speaks to the numbing, mindless destruction of war.
Abdisattorova Xurshida highlights the contrasting legacies of Genghis Khan and Amir Temur. Abdisattorova Hurshida reflects on her admiration for Uzbek martial artist Abdulbosit Abdullayev. Maftuna Rustamova and Chorsanbiyeva Gulnoza poetize in honor of the military personnel who serve and guard Uzbekistan. Zumrad Sobirova celebrates the poetic beauty and pride of her Uzbek heritage. Jumaniyozova Nazokat encourages Uzbekistan’s young people to develop a greater appreciation for their heritage by visiting points of historical interest.
Nilufar Moydinova’s essay highlights language’s inextricable interconnection with thought, life, and culture. Mauro Montacchiesi creates a dialogue of philosophical thoughts and poetry between Dr. Jernail Singh and Rabindranath Tagore. Federico Wardal speaks to his long admiration for artist Andy Warhol and director and screen writer Federico Fellini. Orolova Dinora explores layers of meaning in Antoine St. Exupery’s The Little Prince as Surayyo Nosirova celebrates the heritage of Uzbek author Alexandr Faynberg.
Reagan Shin revels in the comfort and ecstasy and happy memories she finds in books. Mushtariybegim Ozodbekova highlights the power of books and stories to transcend time, culture, age, and space. Panoyeva Jasmina O’tkirovna highlights ways language teachers can help students develop fluency through relevant speaking and grammar practice. Turg’unov Jonpo’lat explores techniques to help children of all abilities to learn foreign languages. Nafosat Jovliyeva and Dilshoda Jurayeva illustrate gamification and other creative strategies for language learning. Rahimova Dilfuza Abdinabiyevna discusses ways to improve student competence with writing and speaking. Hilola Badriddinova outlines strategies used throughout the developed world to teach foreign languages.
Linda S. Gunther contributes a craft essay on “interviewing” your characters to better understand them as a writer. Paul Tristram’s poetry explores the heroic narratives we create through our writing and our lives. Gloria Ameh evokes the visceral sensations of writing on topics close to the bone.
Abigail George writes a stream of consciousness essay on her vulnerabilities from mental illness and just plain existing as a female-bodied person and how enduring them inspired her to write. Soumen Roy also connects beauty to vulnerability, speaking to the fading Mona Lisa and the union of joy and sorrow as fellow travelers.
J.J. Campbell reflects on disillusionment, loss, and the eternal quest, against all odds, for love. Mesfakus Salahin speaks evocatively of his quest for love and freedom. Baxtiniso Salimova’s poetry tells an epic love story. Mirta Liliana Ramirez relates intense grief at the loss of her lover. Dilnoza Islomova expresses her gratitude for her mother’s tender care. Bill Tope and Doug Hawley collaborate on a love story that turns unexpectedly tender. Urazaliyeva Sarvinoz shares an emotional tale of jealousy, love, and forgiveness between two twin sisters. Sarvinoz Orifova expresses gratitude for her parents’ constant love and care. Wazed Abdullah expresses his love and gratitude for his mother. Ozodbek Narzullayev expresses his love for his mother and invites her to share her life struggles with him for support. Xurshida Abdisattorova shares the story of a mother’s complicated grief for an imperfect husband and father who passes away in a sudden accident. Shoxrukh Fayzulla o’g’li Dusmatov speaks to his mother’s love and care and how wealth alone matters little without compassion and humanity.
To’raqulova Pokiza Sanjarovna speaks to the need for human compassion, wisdom, respect, and personal development. Hamza Kamar’s poetry expresses his powerful hopes for a transcendent hero. Bhagirath Chowdhary expresses his determination to avoid the next life until he has finished roaming this world, offering blessings to others. Charles Taylor’s short story probes our ethics and the extent of the compassion we owe our friends and fellow humans.
Julia Kanno reminds residents of the USA that most Latino immigrants are hardworking people with lives and dreams. Bill Tope presents a tale of a survivor’s search for justice for a sexual assault that shattered her psyche. Abdisattorova Khurshida presents a tale of thievery exposed.
Graciela Noemi Villaverde shares a poem on the joy of community and diversity and welcoming special education students. Haeun Regina Kim’s artwork explores unity and acceptance of others, as well as harmony among rural and urban areas. Nabijonova Madinabonu outlines how sharing coffee can help us build building friendship and community. Khudoyqulova Shahzoda highlights Uzbekistan’s programs to enhance economic opportunities for low income women and families and the disabled.
Nazarova Moxiniso looks into discipline and student character development as part of Uzbek preschool education. Ulsanam Ulmasovna outlines Amir Temur’s contributions to the Uzbek education system. Islomov Inomjon describes the Geoment, a device to teach mathematical reasoning to children with low or no vision.
Bozorboyeva Iroda offers encouragement for young people to find and follow their own dreams. Khudoykulova Shahzoda points out consequences of and solutions to youth unemployment.
Various contributors celebrate notable people who should be better known, or highlight important research work. Sobirjonova Rayhona outlines the career and accomplishments of Uzbek woman mathematician and teacher Shodmonova Hilola. Eshmurodova Sevinch highlights the need for training for employees in Uzbekistan’s banking industry in digital technology to modernize industry. Muslima Olimova highlights strategies corporations have used to adapt to stay on top in a digital world. Jo’rayev Ulug’bek outlines engineering techniques for strengthening concrete structures. Mirzaolimov Mirabbos probes the medical relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Ostanaqulov Xojiakbar speculates on how to improve web search engine optimization to improve online communication and website findability. Orozboyeva Mohina Nuraliyevna outlines the role and history of psychology as practiced in Uzbekistan.
On a more psychological level, Duane Vorhees’ poetry covers and highlights human complexity: different aspects to our personalities, different choices we can make, how we can change with time. James Benger’s poetry explores the fear and tension underlying our individual existences, the danger from geologic pressure, storms, raw meat – and how we sometimes find hope to carry forward.
Andrew Ban shares restless, random thoughts, finding commonalities with all humanity while acknowledging the need to protect and defend himself if needed. Dongeon Kim’s work presents scenes of intense human and natural energy while Texas Fontanella revels in the pure sound of non-representational language. Dennis Daly wanders through a variety of human feelings, from nostalgia to frustration to faith. Michael Robinson shares his journey and heritage of faith, how he found a spiritual home and refuge in Christ and the church. Muhammad Sanusi Adam speaks to struggle, resilience, destiny, creation, and faith.
Gaurav Ojha seeks out meaning in a confusing and vast world, ultimately affirming everyone’s ability to find their own truths. We hope that reading this issue helps you to find a smidgen of truth for your own life.
This hopeful green belongs uniquely to the spring earth
In summer, the earth wears a deep blue hat
The deep blue sea holds endless mysteries
This mysterious blue belongs uniquely to the summer earth
In autumn, the earth dons a golden fluffy coat
The golden fluff represents the harvest fields
This harvest gold belongs uniquely to the autumn earth
In winter, the earth wraps itself in a snow-white cape
The snow-white snow and withered trees form a poignant beauty
This poignant beauty belongs uniquely to the winter earth
2.无题
文/邹斯宇(小荷诗社，9岁)
大树伤心的时候
会落下一片叶子
但人类会觉得是一处美景
Untitled
By Zou Siyu (Xiaohe Poetry Club, 9 years old)
When a big tree is sad
It will drop a leaf
But humans will think it’s a beautiful scene
3.人生
文/雷雨晗(小荷诗社，10岁)
有些人的人生像苦瓜一样苦，
而有些人的人生像糖一样甜。
人生很苦的人想要人生变甜，
首先他得适应生活，
就像不喜欢吃苦瓜的人一样，
只要坚持下去他会变得很喜欢吃苦瓜，
那就代表坚持得了生话的各种苦。
所以，
一切都有可能。
Life
By Lei Yuhan (Xiaohe Poetry Club, 10 years old)
Some people’s lives are as bitter as bitter melons,
while others’ lives are as sweet as sugar.
Those who live a bitter life want their life to turn sweet.
First, they have to get used to life,
just like people who don’t like bitter melons—
as long as they persist, they will come to like bitter melons.
That means they can endure all kinds of hardships in life.
So,
everything is possible.
4.无题
文/张雨涵(小荷诗社，11岁)
老天这是怎么了
总是在流泪
让大地、河流都变成了汪洋
让大豆、棉花都在潜水
让鱼、虾都在遨游
农民苦不堪言
雨过天晴后
一切都恢复了平静
Untitled
By Zhang Yuhan (Xiaohe Poetry Club, 11 years old)
What’s wrong with the sky?
It keeps crying
Making the earth and rivers turn into a vast ocean
Making the soybeans and cotton seem to be diving
Making the fish and shrimp swim freely
The farmers are overwhelmed with suffering
After the rain stops and the sky clears
Everything returns to peace
5.花
文/胡裕乐(11岁)
她静静站在那儿
人来人往都夸她
美丽、清新
可我却说她不屈
你不信
那是你没有看见她
在淤泥里的挣扎
Flower
By Hu Yule (11 years old)
She stands there quietly
People come and go, praising her
For being beautiful, fresh
But I say she is unyielding
You don’t believe it
That’s because you haven’t seen
Her struggle in the mud
6.我不算谁的附庸
王韵瑶
也不是某段的支流河
比起这些
我更想成为一场顷刻间的滂沱
旷野间乍起的风波
又或是唐朝遗风外
悬着的唯一月色
人生本就是一首诗歌
而他们的文字浅薄
不该被潦草地印刷着
所以在我笔下
一重山有一重山的错落
我有我的平仄
I Am Not Anyone’s Appendage
By Wang Yunyao
I am not anyone’s appendage
Nor a tributary of some section
Compared to these
I’d rather be a sudden downpour
A gust of wind rising in the wilderness
Or the only moonlight hanging
Beyond the legacy of the Tang Dynasty’s style
Life is originally a poem
Yet their words are shallow
Not to be carelessly printed
So in my writing
One range of mountains has its own arrangement
I have my own rhythm
Su Yun’s Poem:
栅栏
我学会笨拙的飞
或是跳跃
我就去爬盯我千遍的栅栏
用我沾上的泥点记录
我所填过的格块
填满一面
包括尽头挤压变形的铁丝
我忘记笨拙的飞
或是跳跃
我就去走俯视我千遍的横杆
用我脱落的绒羽记录
我所歇息过的桩头
走满千寸
包括中间被冰雹敲掉的木板
当我已经无力，溃烂
就让我的骨头
凭着记忆粘在铁网十字的中心
凝视人巷学会苟活的人们
用混着羽毛捏的泥人
标记十字路口的空间
The Fence
When I learned the clumsy flight
or the leap
I went to climb the fence that had stared at me a thousand times
using the mud spots stuck to me to record
every grid I’d filled
Filling up an entire side
including the twisted wire at the end
When I forgot the clumsy flight
or the leap
I went to walk the crossbar that had looked down on me a thousand times
using the downy feathers I’d shed to record
every post I’d rested on
Walking a thousand inches
including the plank in the middle, knocked off by hailstones
When I’m finally powerless, decaying
let my bones
stick to the center of the iron net’s cross
staring at the crowd in the alley—people who’ve learned to survive by compromise
using a mud doll kneaded with feathers
to mark the space at the crossroads
Biography
Suyun, 17 years old, is a member of the China Poetry Society and a young poet. His works have been published in more than ten countries. he has published poetry collections Yang Fa Wan Wu (Inspiring All Things) and Rui Yu Zhe Si (Wise Words and Philosophical Thoughts) in China, and WITH ECSTASY OF MUSINGS IN TRANQUILITY in India. he is the recipient of the Guido Gozzano Orchard Prize of Italy, the Special Prize for Foreign Writers of the City of Pomezia (with the organizing committee hailing him as “a craftsman of Chinese lyric poetry”), the “Cuttlefish Bone”
Award for Best International Writer Under 25, and the Creative Award of the Naji Naaman International Literary Prize of Lebanon.
This article analyzes the scientific and practical aspects of the interactive device project “Geoment Abacus” designed for visually impaired children. The device offers the opportunity to teach the basics of geometry and mental arithmetic through tactile perception. The article justifies the device’s effectiveness based on international experience, educational psychology, and inclusive education methodologies. It examines the challenges faced by visually impaired children in mastering geometry and mental arithmetic and outlines how the innovative “Geoment Abacus” can improve the effectiveness of teaching these subjects. The structure, functionality, and pedagogical value of the device are explained, with analyses based on practical trials.
1. Introduction
When the education of visually impaired children is delivered through traditional methods, they often face significant difficulties with subjects that heavily rely on visual materials, such as geometry and arithmetic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 285 million people worldwide have vision impairments, including about 19 million children [1]. This global issue necessitates specialized approaches within education systems.
2. Description of the Geoment Abacus Device
The “Geoment Abacus” is an interactive device designed to teach geometry and mental arithmetic to visually impaired children using physical models. With this device, children can understand different geometric shapes through tactile interaction. For mental arithmetic, it uses a traditional abacus format adapted into a tactile version with distinguishable features.
3. Scientific Foundations and International Experience
3.1. Tiflopedagogy and Haptic Learning
Tiflopedagogy is a specialized branch of pedagogy focused on teaching individuals with visual impairments. Research has shown that haptic (touch-based) teaching methods help visually impaired children develop imagination, spatial thinking, and the ability to navigate complex problem-solving situations [2].
3.2. International Experience
Similar approaches have been employed globally, such as the “Tactile Geometry Kit” developed by the Perkins School for the Blind in the United States and Japan’s “Feel Shapes” project. These devices allow students to understand shape, dimension, and spatial relationships through touch. Such tools have increased interest in STEM fields among visually impaired students [3].
4. Composition and Technical Description of the Device
The initial production cost of the Geoment Abacus is approximately 1 million UZS, with serial production estimated at around 470,000 UZS. The device includes:
A variety of tactile (raised) geometric models;
Tactile abacus elements – sticks designed for tactile differentiation;
An audio assistant guide for learners (planned in future versions).
5. Expected Outcomes
By piloting the project, the following results are anticipated:
Enhanced imagination and spatial reasoning among visually impaired children;
Increased interest in geometry and arithmetic;
Development of independent thinking and problem-solving skills through tactile learning.
6. Pedagogical and Psychological Approaches
The Geoment Abacus is tailored to the multisensory learning styles of visually impaired students. It enhances independent thinking, memory, and the development of formal concepts, contributing positively to both cognitive and emotional learning processes.
7. Conclusion
The Geoment Abacus represents not just a technological innovation but a step toward social equity. Its implementation can open new doors for visually impaired children in STEM education. Grounded in scientific principles and supported by international experience, such initiatives play a vital role in advancing inclusive education in Uzbekistan.
References
World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). World Report on Vision.
Jones, L.A., & Lederman, S.J. (2006). Human Haptic Perception: Basics and Applications. Springer.
Smith, D.W., Kelley, P., & Hauser, P.C. (2015). “Tactile Learning for Blind Students in STEM.” Journal of Special Education Technology, 30(4), 195–204.
James Benger is the author of several books of poetry and prose. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Writers Place, and the Riverfront Readings Committee, and is the founder of the 365 Poems in 365 Days online workshop. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.
‘Twas the night before they hooted echoes of cackling laughter
that played a loathing symphony;
knotted joints grasped the veins of empty melodies,
in hopes that someone would notice their song;
cobweb strings mourned,
as the roots anchored dust into its wooden body–
tilted softly along the whispers of dusk–and
entrapped notes being forgotten, gingerly;
pressing black and white muffled the air,
how stagnant they were under her ethereal beauty
as she breathed warmth in their cadaver,
and hushed them a lullaby;
yet, one would only see the angelic dusts
flying ever so gently under the nacreous clouds of the evening,
above the obscure fields of daffodils;
their shadows pirouetted under the moon,
and they ambitiously started plinking,
caressing the void notes,
along the breaths of velvet, dark green Earth;
I heard them.
The Korean Flower
Her glass drops reflect the eyes
she once had sown,
as she sinks into the innocence that never
drifted away
A soft breeze swirls her silver hair as she
slowly collapse
her wrinkled eyes,
brim her lips
with the last water,
cascades of them
she last colored,
kisses of sun bleeds through her body
Petals she collected in her vase,
withered too soon before goodbye–their
picturesque shades soak the
great emerald beauty, floating
Roses of Sharon on its gentle shivers,
and how she watch her fingers slip away from those
fading memories and the blooms
Gentle laughter of her children echoed like wind chimes,
each mellow tune harmonizing in her ears
and then she saw–
her daughter’s warm tears trickling down, her
trembling hands cradling the weathered palms
that once taught her how to hold the world
With her last breath, the mother whispers one final lullaby for her daughter:
when mother leaves to pick oysters in the shadows of the island,
the baby stays behind alone, watching over the house
then, to the lullaby sung by the sea,
slowly and gently, the baby falls asleep,
hoping that her daughter would marvel at the
ephemeral Nature and one day realize
how petals perish
beautifully.
Last Moments with the World
A mother’s wail drifted through the gust of waves,
beware of him who walks where echo fades.
Clung her tight from the
Devil’s hand–choking,
eating those
fleshes
gargling Death before it spoke
hushed by the piercing wind
Is that what it feels like–to be
Justified?
Kingdoms fall
like lullabies luring a child to
marvel at the synchronous aurora and dirge
Nature sings so calmly,
one day it will realize
petals wither with with beauty too cold to touch
quivers of sand and wind
rocked the ship
side-to-side
tilting the decks
until all that it left was the
vulnerability a human endures–how they
writhed.
xanthic light flickers between the rumble while her
yearning carved on the woods
zipped shut by the deep hush.
Jian Yeo is a student of poetry based in Massachusetts, where the changing seasons and scenic landscapes serve as a constant source of inspiration for her work. She is currently a student, balancing her academic pursuits with her passion for writing.
