second smoke
a signal
of what's to come
overnight flood
what if our tarot reader
was right
storing
life's tragedies
frontal lobe
medical bill my designer stitches
her death a temporary absence
another day another court ruling
mashed potato mountain lightly salted
curled up in the tuba rattler
grand central thalamus
on my plate something absurd
in the buttery beveled eggs
fifth-generation funnel clown
dining table of contents
waiting
for the reply
that never comes
locked up in her mind
how to navigate
polar bears
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, in a lush green valley at the foot of the Great Mountain, there lived a tiny but very kind little mouse named Kindmouse.
Kindmouse was a caring and affectionate creature who always cherished his friends. Every morning, upon waking, he would greet his neighbors first – the Butterfly, the Frog, the Swallow, and even the Fox.
One day, a severe drought struck the valley. Trees turned yellow, and rivers began to dry up. The animals suffered greatly from thirst. However, Kindmouse had prepared a little water and food in his tiny burrow during the winter.
The Swallow flew over and said, “Oh Kindmouse, my baby is hungry. Could I have a little wheat?”
Without hesitation, Kindmouse shared some of his wheat.
Then the Fox arrived, speaking untruthfully, “I am looking for water for my sick mother. Don’t you need help?”
Even though Kindmouse knew that the Fox had deceived his friends before, he still gave him some water. For Kindmouse believed:
> “When you do good, even if it does not return to you, your heart shines.”
Days passed. One day, dark clouds covered the sky, and finally, rain poured down! Rivers refilled, and the land turned green once more.
The animals were overjoyed and decided to celebrate Kindmouse with a grand festival!
On the day of the celebration, the Swallow gifted him a small vest stitched with gold, and the Butterfly gave him a crown made of flowers. Even the Fox came to apologize, saying, “Now I truly appreciate your friendship.”
From that day on, all the animals in the valley became loving and caring toward one another. They began to celebrate the day it rained every year as “The Day of Kindmouse’s Compassion.”
Abdusaidova Jasmina was born on July 20, 2011, in G‘allaorol district, Jizzakh region. She is the winner of district and regional stages of the competitions “Young Reader”, “Mushoira”, and “Green Light”. Her creative works have been featured in several newspapers and journals, including “Gulxan”, “Tong Yulduzi”, and “G‘allaorol Ovozi”. Additionally, her works have been published in international media such as “Diaspora Times Global” (foreign), “Kenya Times” (Africa), “Synchronized Chaos” (USA), and “Gazeta Destinacioni” (Albania). She is a member of the “Qaqnus” Creative Club.
Time passed, and the old wounds slowly healed, You endured much oppression, many pains concealed. Every inch of your soil now has flower-beds revealed, May you ever bloom and prosper, garden and meadow blessed, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Your snowy peaks embraced the sunlight’s gentle ray, Because of you, Fitrat and Cholpon’s names were cleared today, Hearts have found where dreams and hopes can once again stay. You are the balm for aching hearts, the cure for all distress, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Your fields drank not water, but my nation’s blood, I deem, My people, in dark times, lived in sorrow’s endless stream. My people, who in hope, awaited freedom’s dream. Oh, my motherland, may your head be safe, hard as stone, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
May your harvest overflow, your blessings never cease, I would use your sacred herbs to grant my eyesight peace. I’d kiss your cheek to honor you, but you have no cheek’s release. May your name be a great epic, in every tongue increased, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Your brave, courageous son stands with a mountain’s might, His loyalty to you is an oath of solemn height. Blessed indeed is he who’s born within your light. Stay safe forever, oh you ancient Land of Turan, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Not for nothing are you called the Motherland so dear, I lived all these years, your sorrows mine to bear. I’ve not thanked you enough for your bread and salt to share. Please forgive my faults, whether they were wrong or right, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Behold today, this wondrous, radiant day has come, The glorious day your independence was won. Congratulations on this blessed, triumphant one! Live for millennia, my free and blooming Gulistan, My soul is sacrificed for you, my Uzbekistan!
Roodly Laurore was born and raised in Haiti. He is an engineer and poet. His poems, widely published, are included in: Synchronized Chaos; Spirit Fire Review; Welter University of Baltimore; Taos Journal of Poetry;Kosmos Journal; Autism Parenting Magazine; Solstice Literary Magazine; The New Verse News; Jerry Jazz Musician and others. He is the father of two sons.
Jerrice J. Baptiste is an artist poet and author of nine books. She has been published in The Yale Review; Kosmos Journal; The Tulane Review; Eco Theo Review; The Caribbean Writer and many others. Jerrice enjoys playing the role of translator and illustrator. She teaches poetry where she lives in New York!
It starts from Astana… Our country is free and free, A beauty beyond description. Water, gas, and electricity, A truly priceless wealth! Saving and preserving them, Starts from childhood. Our love for everyone, Starts from Astana. We learned to preserve our wealth, From our grandfathers. We learned freedom and purity, From our grandmothers. We are the future of the country, We will justify your trust. For a happy future, We will preserve our wealth!
Farzona Hoshimova Fergana region Margilan city 8th grade student of the Erkin Vohidov creative school
Your name, pearly like the sea with moonlit glimmers and as white as mother-of-pearl tastes of honey and water of secrets from yesterday and today.
Your name makes me green again and stirs my heart with your deep kisses and sweet, soft hands that caress my skin with the certain hope of faithful love and passion to live with humility.
A writer, mediator, and visual arts technician, she has published six books: Verses of the People; History of the First Constitutional Governor of Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz in Flames; Being With…; Man’s Anxiety; Paths of the Soul; more than seventy-five anthologies; magazines, newspapers, and cultural radio programs such as “Aonikenk” and “Cultural Bonfire,” as well as television programs, etc. She has received national and international awards. A member of the C.F.C. of SADE, president of IALL, she is involved in several cultural groups such as “Together for Letters,” “Literary Sparks,” and “Artemanaike,” etc.
