This month, across continents, languages, and artistic forms, these writers and artists illustrate pathways towards personal and cultural endurance and survival. Though their subjects range from war to environmentalism, from mathematics to romance, the works are united by a central concern: how people preserve meaning and dignity while confronting the fragility of life. Together, they create a portrait of humanity struggling not merely to survive, but to transform pain, uncertainty, and impermanence into connection, beauty, and renewal.

The shadow of mortality and conflict appears repeatedly throughout these works. Pat Doyne honors those who sacrificed their lives during wartime, while Elaine Murray similarly forces readers to confront the devastating human consequences of war and the preciousness of life itself. Mohammad Sedigh Haghighi broadens this historical struggle, tracing humanity’s difficult movement toward democracy, liberty, and enlightenment against the forces of ignorance. Danijela Ćuk extends the argument into the present by urging humanity to abandon divisions and pursue peace. Lan Xin connects the larger world to our inner worlds, suggesting that we carry the capacity for both good and evil and that changing our mindsets can change society. Even Hamida Nazarova’s analysis of the works of Abdulhamid Cho‘lpon and Hamza Hakimzoda Niyoziy reveals another battlefield: not military conflict, but social injustice, particularly the suffering and oppression faced by Uzbek women. These works collectively suggest that human progress is measured not by conquest, but by compassion, justice, and the willingness to protect one another’s humanity.

Yet alongside destruction exists resilience. Darren C. Demaree writes of love, grief, identity, and survival, revealing how memory becomes a lifeline through suffering. Madina Asliddinova’s family saga captures the cyclical nature of existence through births, deaths, joys, and tragedies, reminding readers that life is never static but constantly renewing itself through generations. Jacques Fleury teases out themes of individual strength and determination to shape one’s own fate in Boston’s Huntington Theater’s production of Oedipus el Rey. Mai Văn Phấn similarly meditates on cycles of time, nature, suffering, and endurance, portraying resilience as something deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the natural world. Patrick Sweeney’s brief pieces linger in moments of nostalgia and connection, emphasizing how even fleeting experiences can carry emotional permanence. Fiza Amir’s poem transforms romantic loss and regret into gratitude, suggesting that pain can take on meaning through memory and reflection.

Several writers explore the emotional burdens placed upon individuals by society. Jesse Emmanuella Pheebemi’s poetry captures the crushing guilt and inadequacy produced by familial and societal expectations, while Eva Lianou Petropoulou’s poetry depicts a speaker exhausted by constant scrutiny over even the smallest behaviors. Sara Hunt-Florez mourns the loss of childhood innocence when a teenage girl is forced to mature too quickly. Sabina Tursunqulova laments in verse the loss of her childhood. J.J. Campbell presents a complex, introspective, and often melancholic exploration of the human experience. Isaac Aju reflects on how trauma can pull a person away from engaging with the world and quietly into themselves. These works expose how society often pressures individuals into performances of perfection or obedience that diminish authentic selfhood. However, Eva Lianou Petropoulou’s short story offers a possible remedy by insisting that love must move beyond isolation and enter the difficult realities of the world if it is to matter at all.

Art itself emerges as one of humanity’s primary tools for surviving emotional complexity. In Alex S. Johnson’s interview with avant-garde artist Diamanda Galás, Galás argues that art achieves its greatest power not through raw confession, but through discipline, strategy, intellect, and creative transformation of pain. This idea resonates strongly with Yongbo Ma’s interview with J.D. Scrimgeour, whose reflections on humor, mystery, music, memory, creativity, and community suggest that poetry helps people navigate the emotional contradictions of being alive. Ma Yongbo’s own poetry likewise wrestles with impermanence, mortality, and the search for meaning, while Paul Tristram’s energetic poems connect creativity with mental health and self-discovery. Paul Murgatroyd approaches art through satire and absurdity, using humor and nostalgia to examine entertainment and poetry themselves. Egamberdiyeva Diloromxon Olloberdi qizi analyzes how Uzbek author Tohir Malik explores adolescent psychology. Duane Vorhees adds yet another dimension by exploring the hidden complexity beneath the surfaces of poems, people, and places. Together, these artists insist that art is not an escape from life’s difficulties, but a way of understanding and enduring them.

Questions of language and culture also play a central role in preserving identity. Egamberdiyeva Diloromxon Olloberdi qizi explores themes of patriotism in the works of Uzbek poet Erkin Vokhidov. Rashidova Shohsanam addresses the challenge of protecting the Uzbek language amid youth slang, internet speech, and foreign influences, emphasizing that language carries cultural memory and identity. Giyosova Mohinur Yoqubjon qizi discusses ways to enhance linguistic capabilities of elementary students. Aleksandra Soltysiak’s poetry, translated by Jakub Sajkowski, similarly celebrates the balance between language, identity, nature, and beauty. Ahmedova Zamira Shokirjon qizi outlines the moral and cultural themes in Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi’s work. Italian critic Ivan Pozzoni discusses central themes of Western literary postmodernism. Christopher Bernard’s third installment of his novel Otherwise underscores books’ vital role in free thought and resistance. Fhen M.’s essay on Roger Kimball critiques approaches to literature that reduce art solely to politics or economics, arguing instead for the continued importance of aesthetics and imaginative value. Sevara Matnazarova celebrates the joy and wonder of reading. These works defend culture not as something static, but as a living inheritance requiring care, interpretation, and renewal.

Other writers focus on practical pathways toward a better future. Abdusalomova Marjona Jahongir qizi and Egamnazarova Shahina Shaxriyor qizi both emphasize determination and goal setting, presenting perseverance as a crucial force for personal transformation. Asalxon Xasanova learns to develop a realistic attitude towards her personal and academic struggles and to seek improvement where needed. Sobirova Iroda Abdulaziz qizi advocates for financial literacy among Uzbek youth, suggesting that economic understanding empowers individuals and communities alike. Sharifov Sirojiddin Shavkatovich celebrates mathematics as a profound intellectual framework for understanding the universe, presenting reason itself as a form of human achievement. Olimova Muslimaxon Odiljon qizi celebrates the success of her high school’s robotics team in their first competition. Abdumutalibov Islombek discusses students’ use of artificial intelligence technology. Mirzajonova Sabokhon turns to medical science, outlining the of iron in the human body, as does Merojxon Ahliddin qizi Majidova, who discusses treatments for liver and uterine issues. Azizaxon Shodmonova sends in a charming graduation poem saying goodbye to a wholesome elementary school year and to her teachers and classmates. Finally, Eshmurzayeva Jasmina Shodiyor qizi celebrates the new generation of educated, accomplished young Uzbek women. These works suggest that hope is not passive optimism, but active effort guided by education, discipline, and vision.

Environmental awareness forms another major thread uniting these voices. Sabrina O’ktamova discusses restoring the damaged soil of the Aralkum Desert through lichen, transforming ecological devastation into the possibility of renewal. Yeon Myung-Li celebrates a variety of animals after a trip to the zoo, including one who escaped. Timothee Bordenave proposes practical environmental conservation through innovative heating methods, while Jacques Fleury simply but powerfully urges people not to litter. Mark Young’s digitally altered maps of Australian geography blend language and vibrant color into imaginative landscapes, reminding readers that geography itself can become art. Christina Chin’s delicate haiku captures a quiet evening moment, revealing the beauty hidden within ordinary experience. Mushtariybegim Ozodbekova similarly argues that beautiful and well-maintained spaces are essential for human flourishing. In these works, caring for the environment becomes inseparable from caring for humanity itself.

Finally, several writers turn toward spirituality, longing, and human connection as sources of transcendence. Soumen Roy reflects on divine presence, interconnectedness, joy, and spiritual awakening, presenting existence as deeply unified beneath apparent separation. Yeon Myung-ji’s imaginative work explores desire, hope, art, and possibility, suggesting that longing itself can inspire transformation. Brent Yergensen’s old-style poem shows a person finding comfort just from the nearness of God. Paul Bavister’s poems look into connection, solitude, change and self-reflection. Jessie Vanderwall presents the depths of loneliness left behind after a great and soul-expanding love. Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar’s tender invitation to dance offers a smaller but equally meaningful expression of vulnerability and admiration. Even amid grief, conflict, and uncertainty, these works affirm the enduring human desire to reach toward others.

Whether through poetry, criticism, environmental activism, mathematics, storytelling, or cultural preservation, these creators demonstrate that survival alone is not enough. Human beings seek beauty alongside truth, memory alongside progress, individuality alongside community. Across all these works runs the same underlying conviction: though life is fragile and often painful, people possess an extraordinary capacity to create meaning, preserve dignity, and imagine renewal even in the face of impermanence.

The Evolution of Consciousness and the Struggle Against Ignorance

Awareness, ignorance, right, wrong, weakness, and power; all seem to have distinct definitions. Yet, upon deeper reflection, we realize these terms carry different meanings for every individual, nation, or tribe. Even through the passage of time, the perspective of a 12-year-old, an 18-year-old, and a 40-year-old toward these concepts undergoes a transformation. Our minds are in a constant state of evolution; had it been otherwise, humanity could never have survived the struggle for existence and would have perished in the early ages.
Humanity has always contemplated to measure the depth of its understanding and its connection with all phenomena—both perceivable and incomprehensible. Nevertheless, man has never been, and will never be, perfect. It is precisely this “imperfection” that is our greatest strength; for human society was formed and has endured to this day by relying on cooperation and the completion of one another.

In the past, power resided in a single hand, held by the tribal chief, often acquired through bloodshed or force. During the era of monarchies, this process continued in a more polished form, albeit seasoned with hypocrisy and politics. Eventually, humanity realized that power should not be the monopoly of a single individual or dynasty; the French Revolution stands as a brilliant example of this historical awakening. Power and wealth have always been a path between triumph or ruin, sought by humans to achieve goals that they deem “good” and others perceive as “evil.” When a person, relying on power, imposes their thoughts on the masses and meets their resistance with force, they perceive themselves as a righteous soul whom others seek to destroy. Democracy is the gift bestowed by God upon enlightened humans to liberate them from this cycle of tyranny.

The concepts of “good” and “bad” are represented differently in everyone’s mind. If you were to seat individuals from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America around a single table and ask them about a political leader or a famous figure, the likelihood of similarity in their answers would be slim. Each responds based on their society, level of literacy, and personal interests. Someone who has been raised from childhood with irrational premises and superstitions cannot be easily enlightened through logic.

In childhood, the human mind is like unshaped clay, molded by potters such as teachers, family, and society. Once this clay is fired in the kiln and turned into a jar, changing its shape becomes arduous. A person in their fourth decade of life who holds a heartfelt belief in superstitions might even sacrifice their life for these hollow beliefs, yet they will never accept that they have been deceived.

In this midst, the one who possesses the courage to trample upon their previous false beliefs and norms to break free from them is the very person whom dictators fear. They are like a white blood cell fighting the bacteria of ignorance within the body of society. Closed societies tend to keep the masses in a state of scientific poverty; for an empty mind can be filled with any claim, and superstition can be sold to them in place of science. But a mind filled with true knowledge has no room for nonsense—just as a cabinet overflowing with books cannot be filled with packs of cigarettes unless the books are discarded; and that is the definition of being a “sell-out.”

A “sell-out” is someone who possesses awareness and knowledge but, for the sake of personal gain, ignores their human duty to enlighten society and sells their soul to the demon of power and money. These individuals are far more debased than those who mislead others out of sheer ignorance.

Despite all this, light always triumphs over darkness. People will find the path of wisdom and shall overcome tyranny, lies, and ignorance. History bears witness that heroes of humanity have always risen to cast the oppressors down from the heights of power.
To the hope of a day when awareness replaces superstition, and all humans—regardless of race, skin color, or language—live alongside one another in peace and tranquility.

TOSHKENT GUMANITAR FANLAR UNIVERSITETI
2-BOSQICH TALABASI
SOBIROVA IRODA ABDULAZIZ QIZI

THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING ECONOMIC LITERACY AMONG YOUTH

ANNOTATION / ANNOTATSIYA / АННОТАЦИЯ

English: This article discusses the importance of improving economic literacy among young people, the role of economic education in society, and the development of financial thinking among students. Economic knowledge helps young people become active participants in the modern economy.

O‘zbekcha: Ushbu maqolada yoshlarning iqtisodiy savodxonligini oshirishning ahamiyati,
iqtisodiy bilimlarning jamiyat taraqqiyotidagi o‘rni hamda talabalarda moliyaviy tafakkurni rivojlantirish masalalari yoritilgan.

Русский: В данной статье рассматривается значение повышения экономической грамотности молодежи,
роль экономических знаний в развитии общества и формирование финансового мышления у студентов.

Keywords: economy, economic literacy, youth, entrepreneurship, financial knowledge, development.

Introduction

In the modern world, economic knowledge has become one of the most important factors for personal and social development.
Young people play a significant role in the future of every country. Therefore, improving economic literacy among youth is an essential task for educational institutions and society.
Economic literacy means understanding financial systems, managing personal budgets, making rational economic decisions, and participating actively in economic life.

Today’s global economy requires individuals who are capable of adapting to rapid technological and financial changes.
Young people with economic knowledge can better understand market relations, entrepreneurship, investment opportunities, and financial planning.
This helps them become more independent and responsible members of society.

The Role of Economic Literacy

Economic literacy is important not only for personal success but also for national development.
Economically educated citizens contribute to the stability and growth of the country’s economy.
They are more likely to start businesses, create jobs, and participate in innovative projects.

Young people who understand economic principles are able to make informed decisions about spending, saving, and investing money.
This reduces financial problems and improves living standards.
Economic literacy also teaches responsibility, discipline, and strategic thinking.

In many countries, governments and universities organize seminars, training courses, and educational programs to improve economic awareness among students.
Such initiatives encourage creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

Economic Education in Universities

Higher education institutions play a major role in developing students’ economic knowledge.
Universities provide theoretical and practical skills related to economics, business, marketing, and management.
Students gain opportunities to participate in scientific conferences, research projects, and innovation programs.

Modern universities also focus on digital economy and information technologies.
Digital banking, online business, and financial technologies have become essential parts of modern economic systems.
As a result, students need to understand not only traditional economics but also modern technological trends.

Teachers and scientific supervisors help students improve analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Research activities motivate young people to contribute to science and society.

Youth and Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is one of the most important directions for youth development.
Young entrepreneurs create new businesses, generate employment opportunities, and support economic growth.
Economic literacy helps young people understand risks and opportunities in business activities.

In Uzbekistan, special attention is being paid to supporting youth entrepreneurship.
Government programs, grants, and educational initiatives provide young people with opportunities to realize their business ideas.
Universities also organize startup competitions and innovation forums to encourage students.

Entrepreneurship develops leadership qualities, communication skills, and creativity.
These abilities are important for achieving success in both personal and professional life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, improving economic literacy among youth is essential for the future development of society.
Economically educated young people are capable of making effective decisions, creating innovative ideas, and contributing to national prosperity.
Universities and educational institutions should continue organizing scientific and educational programs to support talented students.

The future of every nation depends on educated, active, and responsible youth.
Therefore, increasing economic knowledge among young people should remain one of the main priorities of society.
References:
1. Principles of Economics – Gregory Mankiw.
2. Economic Theory textbooks.
3. Scientific articles on youth economic literacy.
4. Official economic development programs of Uzbekistan.

ARTISTIC-AESTHETIC INTERPRETATION OF THE IDEA OF PATRIOTISM IN THE POETRY OF ERKIN VOHIDOV

University of Business and Science. Filologiya oʻzbek tili yoʻnalishi 2-kurs talabasi Egamberdiyeva Diloromxon Olloberdi qizi.

Introduction: The second half of the twentieth century in Uzbek poetry is distinguished by a new stage in the development of national self-awareness and the idea of patriotism. During this period, the творчество of Erkin Vohidov became one of the brightest expressions of inner resistance and the aspiration for freedom formed under colonial conditions. In the poet’s works, patriotism is interpreted not as ordinary sentimental love, but as a philosophical-aesthetic category connecting national identity, historical memory, and future prospects. Although the idea of patriotism in literary studies has often been examined within ideological or emotional contexts, its semiotic and stylistic mechanisms within the artistic system have not been sufficiently analyzed. This article aims to fill that gap by examining the patriotic motifs in the poet’s major works from the perspective of poetic language, imagery, and symbolic systems.

In Erkin Vohidov’s poetry, the representation of the national spirit is expressed through artistic images and symbols, interpretations of national values, and love for the mother tongue. The idea of patriotism appears not merely as a theme, but as the central axis of the entire poetic system. Under Soviet rule, this idea was conveyed not openly, but in metaphorical forms. In the poet’s lyrics, the image of the Motherland is often embodied through symbols such as mother, mountains, rivers, and soil. These symbols possess not only emotional but also deep semiotic meanings: they express the symbolic resistance of national identity against the “alien” culture of colonialism. For example, through images of nature (mountains and rivers), the poet emphasizes the thousand-year historical stability and resilience of the people.

Main Part

The artistic-aesthetic interpretation of patriotism in Erkin Vohidov’s works is most vividly reflected in the qasida “Oʻzbegim” (1968) and the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni” (“Rebellion of Spirits”). These works reveal the motives of inner rebellion and the preservation of national identity under colonial conditions.

The qasida “Oʻzbegim” is one of the most important examples of national pride and self-awareness in Erkin Vohidov’s creativity. The qasida is distinguished by being written in the aruz meter and by its closeness to the classical qasida genre, yet in content it is interpreted as a new call for national awakening under colonial conditions. In the qasida, the word “oʻzbegim” gains rhetorical power through repetition (anaphora), thus enabling a transition from personal address to collective national identity.

The beginning of the qasida emphasizes historical depth:

• “Your history has remained hidden through thousands of centuries, my Uzbek,

Your peers are Pamir and the white-haired Tianshan, my Uzbek.”

In these lines, the image of the Motherland is embodied through mountains and nature. The Pamir and Tianshan mountains symbolize not only geography, but also the thousand-year historical strength of the people and the hidden endurance of the national spirit. By mentioning great ancestors such as Afrosiyob, the Orkhon inscriptions, Al-Biruni, Al-Khwarizmi, and Al-Farabi, the poet awakens national pride. Through the lines:

• “Descendant of Al-Biruni, Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farabi,

Perhaps your true lineage is Ozluq, perhaps Tarkhan, my Uzbek,”

He emphasizes the great scientific and cultural heritage of the Uzbek people. These symbols become aesthetic means for preserving and restoring national identity during the colonial era.

In the qasida, the heavy blows of colonialism are expressed in the lines:

• “Many khans and many sultans

Passed over your poor head, brandishing their swords.”

Here, historical tragedies are presented metaphorically, and the poet avoids direct political criticism by expressing inner resistance through symbolic language. The repetition of the word “oʻzbegim” carries not only rhythmic but also emotional and philosophical weight — it ensures the transition from the personal “I” to the collective national “we.” As a result, the qasida becomes not simply a hymn, but a manifesto of national awakening. Its popularity in the musical performance of Sherali Joʻrayev also demonstrates how deeply it penetrated the hearts of the people.

Another vivid expression of patriotism can be observed in the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni” (“Rebellion of Spirits”) (1978–1979). Dedicated to the life of the Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the work expresses the aspiration for freedom of the Uzbek people through his image. The poem consists of several legends and deeply artistically analyzes such urgent issues as human destiny, social injustice, and the struggle for freedom.

In “Ruhlar isyoni,” the spirit of freedom and rebellion occupies a central place. The appeal in the introduction:

• “You were born free — remain forever free!”

Defines the spirit of the entire poem.

In the section “Legend about Eternity,” through the depiction of a caravan struck by disaster in the desert and a traveler who survives, the eternal struggle of humanity, spiritual endurance, and aspiration for freedom are portrayed. Here, Vohidov uses a philosophical-aesthetic approach, elevating patriotism from an individual spiritual rebellion to a collective national awakening. Through the image of Nazrul Islam, he metaphorically expresses the colonial condition of the Uzbek people.

Although the poem is written in epic form, it is enriched with lyrical emotions and philosophical reflections. Its system of symbols (spirits, rebellion, eternity) transforms patriotism from a mere emotional feeling into a profound philosophical category.

Patriotism in the poet’s other poems such as “Mother Soil,” “Landscape of Dawn,” and “Spring” is also expressed through images of nature, love for the mother tongue, and historical memory. Symbols of nature (rivers, soil, mountains) signify the stability of national identity, while language represents the foundation of the national spirit. Through these elements, patriotism in Vohidov’s poetry appears not only as an emotional phenomenon but also as an aesthetic and philosophical instrument.

The poet’s style, while simple and close to the people, possesses deep metaphorical and semiotic layers. This has made his work one of the brightest examples of Uzbek poetry.

Conclusion

In Erkin Vohidov’s poetry, the idea of patriotism is interpreted at a highly artistic and aesthetic level. In the qasida “Oʻzbegim” and the epic poem “Ruhlar isyoni,” the poet expresses national pride, the aspiration for freedom, and the spirit of independence through symbols, metaphors, and rhetorical devices. Under colonial conditions, metaphorical language and symbolic systems reveal the motives of inner rebellion and the preservation of national identity.

As a result, patriotism in Vohidov’s works becomes not merely an emotional feeling, but also a philosophical-aesthetic instrument. Even today, his works play an important role in educating the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism and in strengthening national self-awareness. The poet’s legacy remains one of the golden pages of Uzbek literature and serves as an example of national pride and the spirit of freedom for future generations.

This analysis demonstrates that the aesthetic power of Erkin Vohidov’s poetry lies in his ability to deeply artistically interpret the idea of patriotism. His творчество deserves even deeper study in Uzbek literary scholarship.

How Reading Improves a Child’s Imagination

A child’s imagination is one of the most beautiful and powerful gifts in life. It is through imagination that children learn to dream, explore, and believe in possibilities far beyond what their eyes can see. Among the many things that help a child grow, reading stands as one of the greatest treasures. A simple book, filled with words and stories, has the magical ability to open doors to worlds children never knew existed. Reading does not only teach children letters and words; it teaches them how to imagine, feel, dream, and understand life in a deeper way. When a child opens a book, something truly special begins to happen. They are no longer sitting quietly in one room; instead, they travel to magical kingdoms, fly through the sky with heroes, dive into deep oceans, or walk through forests filled with wonder. A story becomes more than just words on paper—it becomes an experience. A child who reads about brave explorers may begin dreaming about adventures of their own, while a child who reads stories about kindness may grow into a more caring and understanding person. Unlike television or smartphones, reading requires children to build the story inside their own minds. When a book describes a castle, a dragon, or a peaceful village, every child imagines it differently. One child may picture a shining golden castle in the clouds, while another imagines a mysterious stone palace hidden in the mountains. This beautiful process strengthens creativity because children become creators of their own worlds. Their minds begin to think freely, shaping colors, faces, emotions, and places in ways no screen could ever fully provide.

       Reading also helps children understand feelings—both their own and those of others. Through stories, children experience joy, sadness, fear, hope, friendship, and courage. They laugh with happy characters and feel pain when a character struggles. Sometimes, a child may quietly see themselves in a story, finding comfort in knowing they are not alone in their feelings. In this way, books become silent friends, offering lessons, warmth, and understanding without judgment. Imagine a child sitting by a window on a rainy evening, holding a favorite book in their hands. Outside, the world may seem ordinary, but inside their imagination, extraordinary things are happening. They are climbing mountains, speaking with magical creatures, or solving mysteries with brave companions. That child may not realize it at the moment, but they are learning valuable skills—creativity, patience, empathy, and confidence. Reading shapes not only the imagination but also the heart.

Furthermore, reading gives children the courage to dream bigger. A child who reads stories about inventors may dream of changing the world someday. A child inspired by stories of brave leaders may grow up believing they, too, can make a difference. Books quietly plant seeds of hope and ambition in young hearts. Even the smallest story can leave a lifelong impact.

In today’s fast-moving world, many children spend more time watching screens than opening books. Phones, games, and videos can entertain them quickly, but entertainment is not always the same as imagination. Screens often show children exactly what to think and what to see, while books invite them to think for themselves. Reading teaches patience in a world of speed and creativity in a world filled with distractions. Parents and teachers play an important role in helping children fall in love with reading. Reading bedtime stories, visiting libraries, or simply allowing children to choose books they enjoy can create beautiful memories. Sometimes, the moments children remember most are not expensive gifts or big adventures, but quiet evenings spent listening to stories with someone they love. Those moments can shape a child’s future in powerful ways. A child who reads often grows into a person who thinks deeply, dreams freely, and understands others kindly. Imagination developed through reading can help children become better writers, artists, scientists, teachers, or leaders. More importantly, it helps them become compassionate human beings who believe that anything is possible.

       In conclusion, reading is much more than a school activity or daily habit—it is a journey of the heart and mind. It teaches children to imagine worlds they have never seen, understand feelings they have never experienced, and believe in dreams they have not yet reached. Every book a child opens becomes a small light guiding them toward creativity, wisdom, and hope. If we want children to grow into thoughtful, imaginative, and confident individuals, we must place books in their hands and stories in their hearts. Because sometimes, the greatest magic a child will ever discover begins with turning the first page of a book.

By Sevara Matnazarova (Uzbekistan)

The Quiet Language of Beautiful Spaces

By Mushtariybegim Ozodbekova

When Homes Reflect the Soul

In a world where people spend much of their lives surrounded by stress, speed, and constant distraction, the spaces we live in quietly shape our emotions and thoughts. A home is more than walls and furniture; it is a reflection of personality, comfort, and inner peace. The way a space is designed can influence the human spirit just as deeply as art, music, or literature.

When people decorate their homes, they do more than arrange objects. They create atmosphere — a silent language of colors, textures, light, and memories. A carefully placed lamp, soft curtains moving with the wind, or the warmth of wooden furniture can transform an ordinary room into a place of emotional safety. Aesthetic spaces do not need luxury; they need harmony.

Interior design has become an important part of modern life because people increasingly seek beauty in everyday experiences. In many cultures, homes carry traditions and personal identity through decoration. A traditional carpet, handmade ceramics, family photographs, or natural plants can preserve both memory and individuality within a living space. Through design, homes become stories without words.

In today’s digital age, aesthetic living spaces are often shared across social media platforms, inspiring millions of people around the world. Minimalist rooms, cozy reading corners, soft lighting, and natural colors have become symbols of calmness in a noisy world. Yet true aesthetic value does not come from trends alone — it comes from authenticity and emotional connection.

Beautiful spaces also affect mental well-being. Studies often show that organized and visually peaceful environments can reduce stress and improve concentration. Sunlight, open spaces, greenery, and balanced decoration contribute to emotional comfort and creativity. In this sense, interior design is not only about appearance, but also about human psychology and lifestyle.

At the same time, aesthetic living should remain personal rather than perfect. A home becomes meaningful not when it looks expensive, but when it feels alive with warmth, memories, and individuality. The most memorable spaces are often those filled with sincerity rather than decoration alone.

Mushtariybegim Ozodbekova is a student and aspiring writer from Uzbekistan. She enjoys exploring culture, aesthetics, and human emotion through reflective writing. Her work often focuses on the connection between beauty, identity, and everyday life.

This article was inspired by the idea that living spaces quietly influence human emotions and behavior. In a rapidly changing world, creating aesthetic and peaceful homes has become a way for people to reconnect with themselves and find comfort in ordinary moments.

Mai Van Phan (Vietnam)

Rhythms Compose the Way

One’s memory stirs 

Where shades have deeply buried shades

Rottenness thirsts for the calamity of fire

Stars sleepwalk

Falling into thin dew

Bitter leaves crawl over scalding coals

In their breath pine leaves shroud pine cones

Someone is putting away his traveling case

Shadows that hide in antique objects

Still tremble in fear when their names are called

Tears blur the epochs

In an irrational movement 

The ground lies on its belly to support the levee

A stream of white smoke rises up

A fall pours down from layers of dying leaves

Deep tombs open in one’s chest

Revealing the arterial paths

Corrupted by many inverted rooftops

With stains on the lime-washed web-ridden walls

Inside which the dull tapping sounds

Urge a run towards the door.

(Trans. by Nhat-Lang Le. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

BITTER POTION 

(For Ngọc Trâm)

As fever is burning you on its pyre

I become ash too

The bitter potion cannot wait any more

Holding your hand

      I pour

My grief into the empty bowl…

O’ daughter! As the mist falls 

My hardship arches across the cold night

For frail flowers 

To give off scent needs bitter roots.

Sweat becomes callused hands

Spring pours into the medicine bowl

My old age weeps with mute tears

While truth bursts out for no reason.

I wonder what you eat in your dreams

I put the bowl on the window

When you grow up to my age now

At the bottom of the bowl

There may still be a storm.

(Trans. by Nhat-Lang Le. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Where the Sky Is Spacious

You blow in the warmly ardent season 

Trees wither for lack of water not far from the river swollen in splendor

The fish grinds up the hook and upsets the order of time

I shrink up to fly into infinity

The tower raises multi-directional sensory organ

Your braided hair is glorious like a beaded open-air crown 

and your skin resplendent as the back of the moon

sweet fruit and golden paddy resplendent as the back of the moon

the timely seeds stand up proudly

the thunder, lightning and tornado are self-confident, 

but when my grandparents’ silhouettes are seen

through the perfumed vapour of cooked rice, I burst into tears

Overwhelming absorption and sudden revelation

are woven into horizon of clouds in every circular breath of hope

to trigger the drops of drizzle in the chest 

and the leftover food preserved in memory

Truth makes the letters jump out and they cannot be withdrawn

we are all more self-confident when we wake up and see the symbol engulfed in the mouth of fire.

(Translated by Nguyễn Tiến Văn. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Accompanying the Guest Out of the Alley

After brewing tea

When I returned

The guest was gone

Speaking on the phone

His family said he had been dead seven years

A misunderstanding

At home

All in turmoil

No memory of when the portrait was taken down

Where was the winding clock?

To whom was the fake ancient teapot given?            

Dropping in on the neighbour           

To check several food items

Some with higher prices

Some remained unchanged         

In the house

The tea still hot

Pushing a cup towards the guest’s vacant place

A deadly vapour six meters high suddenly rose up

Bowing down in front once in a while.

(Translated by Nguyễn Tiến Văn. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Mothergate ^(*)  

I

Mother nature caressing child as the moonlight

Sound passing from bough to bough, the howling

Skin and flesh of the woman I loved, 

Our love child spreading deep into the dark

Entering into the dark night,

Skin and flesh erect lift the layered clouds for us

To make a watershed of rain over the sources of rivers

A bough quivers on the water’s surface

Where a bird suddenly perches

Only I can see that small bird so far away from the road

Far away from the garden, from the other flocks of birds

I quietly pass through the corona at the bottom of the water

And look up at the sky with open wings

Rising to the top of the tree where the bird’s beak

Bends down to feed into the mouths of its fledglings

Each sip of wind

Sound of chipped grain in the chest

The bare ground and green fruit

The dense-leaved canopy of the forest

Newborn child on the ground

Swim across the river the tadpole’s tail severing

Learning to flaps its wings, fanning the wind into the nest’s warm bowel

Sprouts the cotyledon leaves, flies away freely

Steam rises by the river-wharf

Space condenses the confusion of time

Smoke steams up high

I realize I am swimming in a sea mist

Not mist but rain

The tall tower glittering

Breathing, muscles firm, the leaf singing…

The dead return, suddenly, in the blossoming flower

I shudder at a shoreline

The water surface choking where there are no breaking waves

A sip of cool water drifting slowly…

Suddenly remembers the high tide season submerging the cricket’s cave

Burble sound of bubbles gushing up by stages

So that I realize where the cave mouth is…

II

Place child on the ground

The riverbed has enough pain to tear off the body of night

Nature glossy wet

The trunk of trees disintegration turns into splinters

Water swift flowing

Flowing faster

I burst into tears to sweep away the spider web

Sound of the heron’s hoarseness

The ashes flashing up

Moon trembling

Pick up a pebble to draw on the ground

A field

The young calf bewildered

A clear outline as the calf bent down to graze

Another direction draws an extra eye

The eye of wild animals or eye of human

Write the words on the remaining empty boxes.

III

The voice very close

Under the light of dawn you must transform yourself!

Fruits

Firelights

Yin Yang bowl of water

While crawling over bowl of twilight

Pull the body gradually out of the shell

I sip the dewdrops

The ghastly shell heaped up high

Was out of reach

Groups of people helping each other towards incapacity

End of dawn.

IV

The shade of trees bursting out underfoot

Images on the map are torn off?

Or the half-bat half-mouse corpse?

I was so frightened, weaving the grating

Set booby-traps around myself

Sharpening the knife

Preparing a matchbox

As close to the horizon

The drifting darkness was terrible

Faster than emotion

I keep accumulating anxiety, the resentment

Until the blackness of night was completely

Erased off.

V

I chased small prey

Threw myself upon the wave’s crest, then lost direction

The low tide

In the dream near morning

My bones painful

The tail and dorsal fin frostbitten

There is a hand threading the strings

Dragging me slowly on the ground

They stopped to shelter from the rain

Suddenly release me

Near the foot of waves

I was grateful the rain

The loud thunder and cool wind.

VI

Father recently tried to get up after being bedridden, staggering out the door, he fell into a square block of light

He tried to point his finger, then said: “That green beetle on a leaf canopy, father sees it for the first time”.

I tell these unintentional stories about the time father was in a coma. A story of the large cloud that flew slowly through our home. The deep wells rising steam up to the window. One story about the song of the crypsirina temia bird, makes everyone look at the bowl of drugs.

The body of father is like shallow rivers, dry wood, and the empty paddy grain

The raceme of weighty fruits, swaying in the strong wind

Father suddenly whispering: Please help father go to rest

Sound of dried leaves sliding off the roof makes father and I shed tears together.

VII

The universe lays the black coat over me

Only eyes open to pray

Mumbling I still thought

… white hand black blood white tongue black tears white back black helix curl of white hair black sweat

The black spilt on everything will end us

Let’s pray to save the people of this world

Lighthouse…

Kitchen bright…

Look in any direction

Like learning to focus on the blackboard

Learning to separate the colors

To spell the letters

This crossroad of white

The earth’s surface, the seas surface white

Great old man, a chair, the woman in white

The inspector, the farmer in white…

The mouth reads aloud, the mind still holds sundry thoughts

…white tongue black tears white back black helix curl of white hair…

VIII

Curled up I sleep in cold wind

Dream to be a fetus

The navel-string connects to the solar

Fly above canopy of the trees

The eyes with a look, make the sound of sobbing… blue

Every tiny bud of limbs

Springing lightly in the body of Him

I wake up

That place starts on the road

The colt unsteady standing up

The flock of insects crawling out of the trunk

The tiny shrimp blasting off the throat of water.

IX

drum gong and eight ornaments

opens the festival of imperial court

sing and dance to heaven

the great merit of four palaces

opens the mind of a disciple

tolerant eyes look

the quiet weather

the special envoy giving out grace

sincerity respectfully kowtow

four gods flanking the lady god

garb and turban of sorceress are brocade and flower embroidery.

come and go refreshed

moving between heaven and earth

powdery cheeks and ruby lips

rhythm of bamboo beating and rhythm of castanets

string of coins

sacred dragon hovering

five great mandarins’

the hand swaying

high talent deep virtue

the flame glittering

fondle protecting

loving mason bee

silkworm spits out the silk cord

garb and scarf flapping

alluvial cuddling

wind coming back to the riverbed

cassaba melon pyriform melon

fragrance of lotus and areca pervading

boys and girls entering the region

prepare the sedge mat, prepare the blanket

as flower, as butterfly

faces glowing with pleasure

as the ground is to the sky

grass and trees in good verdant

raining fast and violently

…

Translated from Vietnamese by Trần Nghi Hoàng

Edited by Frederick Turner

 ^(*) Mothergate – Mother in this poem does not mean “mother” as normal. It carries the meaning of “the Way”, the “philosophy of belief.”. As: “The Way that can be told of is not an unvarying way; The names that can be named are not unvarying names. It was from the Nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang; The named is but the mother that rears the ten thousand creatures, each after its kind” (Lao-tzu)

The Opening Ground

Gushing 

between the screams of ephemeral belts of land

the riverbed writhes in waning light

dusk holds day tight in its mouth

fire convulses

fiercely ascending the tree tops

scorching the buds

A flight of birds spreads across the sky

so thoughts can reign on earth

where the wind’s face meets a bowed hill top

a deep cavern exhales myths to morning dew

ponds and puddles find a heavenly direction

the river gives birth while flowing

An open embrace of waves

playing in childish ebullience

the water surface turns to ruins

You set up an already broken sun

Drifting… 

An unknown silence is drifting by

the lamp wick shortens

as kerosene soot says its last words

I vaguely hear the boiling batch of herb saying its apology

Erupting…

A flower opens vast expanses of land.

(Translated by Nhat Lang-le. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Closed Eyes

With closed eyes the world appears unpolluted. The surrounding pure spaces are spreading and latticed. We see ourselves in childhood holding a bright candle in the church. The candlelight is filling eye-sockets, filling the hollow immobile gaps amidst secret verdant foliage. With closed eyes the forest resembles a garden. The rattan stems, the ferns and wild grasses take the shape of huge ancient trees. The needle leaves form a large canopy. The earth bee, the porcupine, the squirrel, and the bull are similar shapes… And I stayed motionless for a long time with my eyes closed. Even though my premonition had warned me, they were looking for a clue, fanning the wind, taking fright… With closed eyes we can see people and all things in justice and in a clear light. Pens and books, beds and drawers, knives and chopping boards, and the old bike were of the same size. Each human organ opens up with multiple strange eyes, while the venoms absorbed are permanently sealed up with no way of escape. With closed eyes you are not so busy as when I am with open eyes. But your silence makes queer resounding sounds, telling me that your love has penetrated the trees, the streets and houses, the gardens, the fields, and the rivers and springs… From now on we need not doubt anything until we close our eyes forever

(Translated by Nguyễn Tiến Văn. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Photos, Fruit and Dreams

Under-exposed photos, speed-ripened fruit and dreams that lose their wings before the rain, flow slowly against the current of memories.

A wind blows open morning fields, rushes into rooms full of blended dust and light, wipes sweat off freshly bathed dreams.

The origins are within the span of a hand, when you come back you have gone through your entire life, or you wait to reincarnate into the next life.

Those souls that have yet to reincarnate, visit worshipping places, fly aimlessly, then shelter in fixed idolatry.

Someone runs across the dreams, the fruit and photos, to recover what he lost, to feel each tear choke back and see the amalgam of each shadow.

Origins have renewed space, and a generation of young grass is spreading over old ground.

Souls stand at new angles opening to different lights, and in the moan of fresh dew, they pause and knock on each vowel.

Everywhere new streams are beginning to pour into memories, taking the photos, the fruit, the dreams, to turn everything into a voice last night.

(Translated by Nhat Lang-le. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Variations of the Crow

The smell of death draws the wick to the zenith 

The crow shines brightly.

*

Birth

After the crow’s croaking

Irresistible departure

The pouch has been opened 

Unconcealed deterioration

The herb doctor burned his books at the end of the garden

New medicines in stock had expired 

The witches suffered punishment

Their mouths closed by iron hooks

Birth 

When the bell suddenly dropped 

Covering the old temple warden’s head

The fish committed suicide by jumping into a cloud

Ten thousand fishing hooks, hanging in the sky

Birth

Ink was splattered under feet and blood 

Congealed in throat and lung arteries 

With a stroke on the first page

Thousands of pages were permeated.

*

Fallen from the summit

With two sharp wings

Centering on the corpse

Slashing the atmosphere

Hurried winds had no time for bandages.

*

Clawing from the eye sockets

The viewpoints

With posthumous pictures as evidence

Cut out the tongue

Stretch to dry off in the sun 

the slogan’s lesson

Slice off flesh piece by piece 

Dismember limbs

Show the innards

The skull all set up

Was completely covered with mold

This epitaph could not be written.

*

The crow dreamed

All deaths were arranged

After the crow’s croaking

Who volunteers to lie down.

*

The crow flew into the room

A finger raised slightly

Implying:

This is the gun muzzle 

The scythe

Even the spade

Even the very hard finger

Rather it was frozen

Then defrosted

Then melted down.

*

Do not approach the shade

It was the crow

Spreading its wings at sunset, sunrise

With its claws clinging to the winds 

To grind dry leaves

To prune outreaching branches

The poet took refuge in the shade

Each letter hollowed out of an eye.

*

To look at

Things

Glaringly

Because in the wink of the eye

The shadow of the crow

Stormed in.

One’s own shadow

Did not raise its voice

For fear of turning into a chick.

*

A number of people emerged from the crowd, clad in black, wearing black masks. While running, they slapped their arms on their flanks. They tried to raise their heads by stretching their necks. The black shadow hovered close to the ground.

*

Perched on a tree fork after overeating and napping, the crow dreamed that every mouthful of food squeezed into its stomach would turn into an egg. The crow chicks crept in groups from the five organs and immediately lowered themselves to hunt with the instinct of a bird of prey.

*

The utmost sufferings looked back on a life almost dead. The cloak gave a muffled shout when passing desk and drawers. The telephone slept silently. The staple opened its mouth to hide its claws. The broomstick gripped the laborer’s arm, and pulled her to the garbage dump. The hat brim on the head cried out in panic, then bent down to devour the entire face of the guard. Nobody opened the gate. Yet many people managed to find an entrance.

*

The disembodied souls looked for a way back to fight the evil crows. After the volley of non-lethal bullets, smoke from incense joss-sticks spread onto a board, with the first word written for the new lesson.

* 

This is the last line in a testament: 

“Start the celestial burial at the appearance of the crow’s shadow”.

*

The night shadow crept into the crow’s belly.

And ours too. With gnawing pain together on the hungry river. The drops of troubled water found a way to pass through cotton fibres. The huge surface of water, its vibrations, wishing to keep hold of human shadows. Strike a match and remember that the wick is very distant. Throw up both arms, raise your voice alone in the darkness.

The crow out of sorts through the might 

Craws in fright

For the first time the sound goes out without an echo.

(Translated by Nguyễn Tiến Văn. Edited by Susan Blanshard)

Biography of Mai Văn Phấn

Vietnamese poet Mai Văn Phấn was born 1955. He has published 19 poetry books and 1 book “Critiques – Essays” in Vietnam. 34 poetry books and translations of his are published and released in foreign countries and on Amazon’s book distribution network. Poems of Mai Văn Phấn are translated into more than 40 languages. He has won a number of Vietnamese and international literary awards, including: The Vietnam Writers’ Association Award in 2010; The Cikada Literary Prize of Sweden in 2017; etc.