First, an announcement: published poet and contributor Tao Yucheng would like to host and judge a poetry contest open to all readers of Synchronized Chaos Magazine.

Synchronized Chaos Poetry Contest

We seek short, powerful, imaginative, and strange poetry. While we welcome all forms of free verse and subject matter, we prefer concise work that makes an impact.

Guidelines: Submit up to five poems per person to taoyucheng921129@proton.me. Each poem should not exceed one page (ideally half a page or less). All styles and themes welcome. Deadline for submissions will be in early March.

Prizes: First Place: $50 Second Place: $10, payable via online transfer. One Honorable Mention. Selected finalists will be published in Synchronized Chaos Magazine.

A second announcement: poet and regular contributor J.J. Campbell has a new book out, to live your dreams.

From the back of the book: J.J. Campbell’s work is an unflinching look into a life spent alone with the bottle and the page readily at hand. It is raw, honest, and uncompromising in every sense of the word. You are keyed into the fact that this is a writer who doesn’t sugarcoat a single line to ever soften the blow. Campbell’s work is perfect in that sense, and in this newest collection, you are getting a writer at the top of his form.

Now, for our first issue of 2026. This issue explores what makes us who we are, physically and psychologically, as individuals and as communities and nations.

Nicholas Gunther explores what makes him human, where in his body his consciousness might be located. Kassandra Aguilera also speculates about her consciousness, considering what makes her feel alive.

Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso explores some Eastern and Western philosophical conceptions of what it means to live a conscious human life. Morley Cacoethes’ haikus also explore where and how we find inner wisdom and knowledge. Nilufar Mo’ydinova outlines themes of free will and the search for truth through experience in Goethe’s Faust.

Brian Michael Barbeito crafts a lyrical winter meditation on a person’s holding onto nature and his identity in an alienating new world. Satimboyeva Risolat echoes the importance of maintaining one’s personal values. Mahbub Alam urges people to draw on the wisdom they possess to make the world more just and healthier. Türkan Ergör considers the unpredictable nature of our lives and the need to choose kindness. Zeki Celic reminds us to make the most of the limited time we each have on earth as Stephen Jarrell Williams depicts characters choosing freedom, peace, and love.

Aliyeva Aziza Utkirovna points to the eyes as a place where humans reveal their inner feelings. Nurbek Norchayev’s evocative piece celebrates the power of poetry to convey emotion and sensibility. Aliyeva Zulaykho highlights the role of breath in vocal expression while reading texts.

Chloe Schoenfeld delves into Walter Gramatte’s painting of German artist, art historian, and social activist Rosa Schapire. She wonders how much of the craft of creating a likeness is about the subject and how much is about the associations the artist draws on to help them imagine and understand the person.

Shomurodova Dilafro’z Bahodir qizi explores approaches to Uzbek linguistics that focus more on the people creating texts rather than merely on the texts as isolated objects. Fayziyeva Hafiza Alisher qizi also looks at human life and culture’s influence upon languages.

J.K. Durick reflects on the seasons of life where we are observers, contemplating those around us or what has happened. Taylor Dibbert‘s poetic speaker considers his own role in the dissolution of his marriage. Bill Tope’s short story depicts family pulled apart, then back together, then apart again.

Dr. Jernail Singh urges parents to let their young adult children learn and work for their own dreams in life. Also, he reminds us to consider the legacies we leave behind for the rest of the world once we become successful enough to care for ourselves and our families. Tolqinova Marifatoi Shavkatjon qizi outlines research into approaches to social and vocational training for young adults.

Lan Qyqalla recollects his romance with his late wife as Adalat Eroglu versifies about a tender romance and Özcan İşler urges his love to remember him. Nasser Alshaikh Ahmed Arabia’s poetic mind wanders through the jasmine-scented depths and alleyways of love. Ramona Yolanda-Montiel considers an old and warm poncho as a sign of her family’s love. J.J. Campbell writes his way through another lonely, disillusioned holiday, wishing he had love and a close family.

Aleksandra Soltysiak wonders at gentle miracles at Christmas, within nature and within families. Gabriel Bates reflects on the ways he distracts and enjoys himself during holiday celebrations. S. Afrose sings of the joys of the Christmas season. Til Kumari Sharma highlights the beauty and value of the Christian faith at Christmas as Maja Milojkovic expresses gratitude to the archangel Michael. Kalipada Ghosh celebrates life, faith, love, and joy at the holiday season. Sardar Makhmudova’s short story shares how a little girl’s brave adventure lets her discover the meaning of the season, sharing love with others. Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai goes into poetic rapture about romantic love, world peace, and personal stillness.

Ahmed Miqdad laments the cold winter endured by Palestinian refugees in a call for global peace and justice. Pat Doyne reflects on the United States’ gun violence epidemic and the lack of progress to tackle it. Also, she speaks to the political chaos in America and its negative effects on consumer prices. Giulia Mozzati Zacco mourns the deaths of children in school shootings through the ancient form of the ghazal. Ziyoda Muradilova reflects on cultural pressures that social media has placed on the craft of journalism, to be fast, interactive, and appealing to readers, and how that poses challenges to the task of delivering truth.

Eva Petropoulou Lianou reminds us that true freedom is a society where people can live safely together, not merely the chance to serve ourselves at others’ expense. Dr. Jernail Singh reminds us that what goes around, comes around, both in terms of the legal system and the religious concept of karma. Duane Vorhees points out that concepts such as justice and poetry and perception should not remain purely abstract but carry practical meanings in the real world.

Abdulrazaq Godwin Omeiza considers how formal education taught him the facts of history, but poetry showed him how to survive it. Ruqaya Mehran, interviewed by poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou, discusses her work as a museum guide, influencer, and historian of ancient Egypt. Dylan Lloyd speaks to the emerging, burgeoning magic of creativity. Taro Hokkyo’s short story illustrates the power of self-belief in overcoming oppression and obstacles. Zaxina Tohirova highlights the lessons we can learn from failure and perseverance. Aziza Xasamova urges us through piercing prose not to give up, whatever happens in our lives.

Ahmed Farooq Baidoon revels in togetherness and merriment at the New Year. Kujtim Hajdari expresses high hopes and dreams for the New Year as Imran Khan moves forward into 2026 with optimism and Jacques Fleury tosses in his New Year wishes for all of our readers. Bruce Roberts contributes a splash of whimsy in his Wacky New Year poem. Valentina Yordanova’s poetry, translated by Yoana Konstantinova, reflects on the joy of Christmas and the self-reflection encouraged in the New Year as Dr. Ratan Bhattacharjee marches forth into 2026 with hope and strength. JoyAnne O’Donnell renews her hopes and dreams as time marches forward. Argentinian poet Graciela Noemi Villaverde takes joy in her December 21st birthday, the summer solstice where she lives, and Fernando Jose Martinez Alderete reflects on nature’s rest and preparation for regrowth during winter.

Elza Hansen celebrates the maternal and paternal love at the heart of the Christmas holiday. Abu Rayhan Beruni connects the importance of strong families to a strong nation.

Dildora Khojyozova highlights the cultural renaissance of the nation of Uzbekistan as Diyorbek Elmirzayev looks at Uzbekistan’s increasing government debt as an outgrowth of economic growth and investments in modernization. Lolaxon Sodiqxonova highlights the importance of gender equality and initiatives to empower Uzbek women in economics and education. Dilshoda Nodir qizi Nurboboyeva presents strategies for educating and raising children without gender stereotypes. Priyanka Neogi urges women around the world to move forward with self-respect, creativity, and independence. Ashraf Al-Mismar provides a literary analysis of gender, identity, and migration in his novel Soul Shards.

Communication is integral to intercultural understanding and migration. Shaxriniso Savranboyeva outlines various approaches to translating idioms across languages and cultures. Saminjon Khakimov points to how language instructors can harness the phenomenon of code-switching, reverting to one’s native tongue, in the classroom. Abdurashidova Sabina Eldarovna highlights teen code-switching, from normal language to chat-speak and slang. Eshpo’latova Xilola highlights the role of audiovisual teaching aids in enhancing students’ foreign language acquisition. Ruziyeva Sitora outlines why and how English is still considered a global language as Ubaydullayeva Saodat discusses the role of English in international travel.

Abdullayeva Feruza suggests visual activities that help accentuate young children’s learning. Yusupov Otajon Ulug’bek ogli outlines various creative approaches to teaching and learning foreign languages. Gulsevar Amirqulova encourages teachers to practice and develop their own creativity as part of professional development. Jo’ranazova Dilobar Dilmurod qizi highlights different ways to teach young children their mother tongue. Nasulloyeva Feruzabonu expounds on the value of science and technology education for society in ways that go above and beyond the practical. Dr. Jernail Singh Anand urges society and our educational system to teach wisdom and the humanities rather than simply focusing on speeding up students’ financial success. Bahora Akmalova considers approaches to teaching preschool children social skills in a classroom setting. Rupa Rao interviews writing mentor Balachandran Nair about his work with emerging authors.

Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews Dr. Reda Abdel Rahim, inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, about his work with artifacts of his nation’s past. Jeffrey Spahr-Summers’ digitally altered photographs glimpse a more recent past, giving homes and street scenes a hazy, nostalgic feel.

Sayani Mukherjee’s imagistic work explores nature, love, loss, and the concept of home. Natasha Leung draws on oceans and canoes as a metaphor for a couple who are separated all too often. Eleanor Hazel Hill reflects on physical mementos of summer fun. Yusufjonova O’gilxon revels in the chill pleasantries of winter. Soumen Roy looks to a river metaphor to express consistent flow, purpose, humility and resilience. Dr. Byeong-Cheol Kang evokes the resoluteness and strength of an eagle. Kujtim Hajdari highlights ecological themes in his review of Eva Petropoulou’s poetry. Axmadqulova Sapuraxon shares ideas for educating preschool children about the environment. A group of youth in China submits various short poems inspired by natural scenes. Alan Catlin patters out imagistic pieces inspired by various Japanese words for rain as O’rinboyeva Zarina speculates on life on a planet where rain is a rarity. Robert Beckvall reflects on his life’s winding path and how it deposited him on the lush big island of Hawaii. Mesfakus Salahin looks to the longer-lasting natural world for absolution from his complex memories. Riley Winters laments human exploitation of animals and the wilderness.

Mykyta Ryzhykh evokes the inextricable natures of life and death. Alyssa Trivett graphically renders the aftermath of a car accident. Nilufar Yoldoshova outlines similarities and differences between Uzbek and Korean funeral customs. Tea Russo’s work dramatizes the soul-killing effects of grief, loneliness, and shame. Gabriel Kang’s work exposes exploitation disguised as progress and love. Robin Beernaert outlines the psychological impact of a griever’s journey through poetry and prose.

Jessica Vanderwall composes an emotionally complex love letter to herself. Daniela Chourio-Soto reflects on the power of dreams to express and warn us about feelings in our waking lives. Joshua Obirija paints a lower-case portrait of the grief and lostness driving his writing.

Adrina Esparas-Hope crafts a graphic image of visceral love that could be a metaphor for creative pursuits. Brian Barbeito lets go of the need to understand everything before he can experience beauty and mystery. Texas Fontanella’s work revels in color and improvisation, reminiscent of jazz and electronica. Mark Young artistically alters geographical maps of checkerboards and Australian regions. Grant Guy intentionally erases parts of painted and typed texts as an artistic experiment. Zamira Moldiyeva Bahodirovna encourages readers and students to take up a refreshing and creative hobby. Federico Wardal explores the career and casting decisions of artists’ manager Adriano Aragozzini.

More practical fields can be creative as well. Shahlo Rustamova explores the role of discrete mathematics, particularly combinatorics, in understanding biological structures. Farangiz Musurmonova urges Uzbek accounting frameworks to match those of international professional standards. Medical student O’roqova Nargiza outlines the importance of salivary glands in the human body. Normurodova Salina Saitkulovna discusses how the medical field prepares for pandemics. Ahmedova Dilorom Mahmudovna highlights the progress of medical therapies for cancers caused by human papillomavirus.

We hope that this issue will inspire your creativity!

Improving the Audit of Enterprises’ Financial Condition Based on International Standards

Abstract: This article addresses issues related to auditing enterprises’ financial condition based on international audit standards. It analyzes the necessity of aligning the audit system with international requirements, the process of transitioning to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Uzbekistan’s economy, modern approaches in audit checks, and ways to enhance their effectiveness. Additionally, proposals are provided for improving national practice through the introduction of digital technologies into the audit process and enhancing auditors’ qualifications.

Keywords: audit, financial reporting, international standards, IFRS, internal control, audit opinion, enterprise financial stability.

Introduction

In market economy conditions, the openness and transparency of enterprises’ activities are among the most important factors of economic development. The reliability of financial reports is ensured through independent audit checks.

In recent years in Uzbekistan’s economy, the processes of gradually transitioning to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and aligning auditing activities with international requirements have been accelerating. This process, in turn, requires new approaches to assessing enterprises’ financial condition.

The relevance of the topic lies in the fact that as economic reforms deepen in the country, the need to improve the quality of auditing activities and enhance audits based on international standards is intensifying. By introducing international audit standards, financial transparency in enterprises, investor confidence, and an effective management system are formed.

Main Part

Content and Importance of International Audit Standards
International Standards on Auditing (ISA) are uniform criteria that auditors follow to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of financial reports.
Their main purpose is to establish uniform requirements, concepts, and methods for auditors operating in different countries.

Adhering to international audit standards provides the following opportunities:
Ensures international recognition of audit opinions;
Creates a reliable information base for foreign investors;
Reduces subjective approaches in the audit process;
Improves audit quality and enhances competitiveness.

Legal Basis of Auditing Activities in Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan, auditing activities are carried out based on the Law “On Auditing Activities” (April 25, 2016). Additionally, the Chamber of Auditors under the Ministry of Finance is responsible for developing audit standards, licensing, and oversight.
In recent years, reforms have been implemented to gradually introduce IFRS and international audit standards. In 2023–2025, many large enterprises and banks are transitioning to preparing financial reports based on IFRS. This requires further improvement of the audit system in line with international requirements.

The Role of International Standards in Assessing Financial Condition
An enterprise’s financial condition is considered one of the most important indicators in the audit process. According to international standards, the auditor must conduct a deep analysis of the following areas:

Real valuation of assets and liabilities;
Formation of profits and losses;
Cash flow analysis;
Effectiveness of the internal control system;
Compliance of accounting policies with IFRS requirements.

In financial analysis, using international indicators such as “solvency ratio”, “liquidity ratio”, and “profitability ratio” increases the reliability of the audit opinion.

Modern Approaches in the Audit Process

In modern audit processes, the trend of using digital technologies and artificial intelligence is strengthening. With the help of programs like Audit Analytics, Power BI, and ACL, it becomes possible to:
Automatically analyze financial data;
Detect errors;
Quickly assess risks;
Identify fraud.
Additionally, the “Continuous auditing” approach allows real-time monitoring of enterprise activities. This enables the preparation of audit opinions in a timely and accurate manner.

Enhancing Auditors’ Qualifications and Problems
The human factor plays a significant role in improving audit quality. In Uzbekistan, auditors’ qualifications are being enhanced through international certification programs such as ACCA, CPA, and CIPA.

However, the following problems exist in practice:
Auditors’ incomplete knowledge of international standards;
Weakness of internal control systems in enterprises;
Lack of digitization in the audit process;
Limited financial capabilities of independent audit organizations.

Ways to Improve the Audit System
To improve the audit of enterprises’ financial condition based on international standards, the following measures are important:

Fully integrate IFRS and international audit standards into national legislation.
Implement ongoing training programs for auditors.
Introduce digital technologies into the audit process.
Strengthen internal audit systems.
Create digital information databases for audit organizations.
Study foreign experience and expand international cooperation.

Conclusion

Auditing activities based on international audit standards enhance enterprises’ financial stability, strengthen investor confidence, and ensure transparency in the economy. Uzbekistan’s gradual transition to international financial standards, the application of digital technologies in auditing, and improving personnel qualifications create opportunities to increase the effectiveness of the audit system.

It is worth emphasizing here that implementing an audit system based on international standards for assessing enterprises’ financial condition not only improves internal management of enterprise activities but also ensures transparency in the country’s economic policy.

Through an audit system aligned with international requirements, the following positive results can be achieved:
Increasing the reliability and comparability of financial reports;
Creating a favorable environment to attract foreign investments;
Forming a real financial information base for the state budget and tax authorities;
Developing a culture of internal control in enterprises;
Expanding opportunities for early detection and prevention of financial risks.

Moreover, audits based on international standards enhance enterprises’ competitiveness. Because this process ensures the use of precise criteria, a uniform approach, and reliable data in analyzing financial reports. As a result, enterprise management makes informed strategic decisions, and shareholders and investors can safely direct their funds.

Today in Uzbekistan, digitizing auditing activities, using artificial intelligence, big data, and automated analysis programs to increase efficiency has become a pressing task. At the same time, enhancing auditors’ professional qualifications to an international level, exchanging experiences, attracting foreign experts, and improving the national certification system are also of great importance.
In conclusion, improving the audit of enterprises’ financial condition based on international standards is not only an integral part of economic reforms but also a key factor in increasing the country’s investment attractiveness, strengthening financial stability, and integrating into the international economic system.

In the future, through scientific research in this direction, adapting international experience to national practice, and improving current legislation, auditing activities are expected to reach a higher level.

List of References
Republic of Uzbekistan Law “On Auditing Activities.” — Tashkent, 2016.
Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan PQ-4611 “On Introducing International Financial Reporting Standards,” February 24, 2019.
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). International Standards on Auditing (ISA), 2023 Edition.
IFRS Foundation. Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting, 2022.
Jo‘rayev, N. “Modern Trends in Digitizing Audit Activities.” — Tashkent Finance Institute Journal, 2023.
Karimov, S. “Organizing Audit Checks Based on International Audit Standards.” — Economy and Finance Journal, No. 4, 2024.
www.ifac.org
www.ifrs.org

My name is Farangiz, and I was born on July 18, 2006, in Qamashi
district of Kashkadarya region, Uzbekistan. I come from a large and
close-knit family. My father is a farmer who manages his own farm, and my mother works as a teacher at School No. 36. Being raised in such a family taught me the values of hard work, responsibility, and
perseverance from an early age.

In 2024, I graduated from secondary school with a gold medal, which
reflects my strong academic performance and dedication to learning. In the same year, I was admitted to Karshi State Technical University,
majoring in Banking, with a score of 131 points. During my first
semester, I achieved excellent grades in all subjects. Among them, I
especially enjoy studying Economic Theory, as it helps me understand how economies function and how financial decisions shape society.

I have a strong interest in mathematics, economics, and languages. I
am currently improving my English and Russian, focusing particularly
on speaking skills and vocabulary development. In addition, I am
preparing to obtain a national mathematics certificate, which is an
important step toward my academic and professional goals.

Beyond academics, I enjoy reading books and constantly strive for
self-development. I am highly motivated, future-oriented, and
ambitious. My long-term goal is to become a successful entrepreneur
and a globally recognized business leader, inspired by figures such as Elon Musk and Jack Ma. I plan to gain strong professional experience in my field, pursue a master’s degree abroad—preferably in the United States or Germany—and later establish my own educational center and other businesses, including ventures in the fashion industry.

I believe that continuous learning, discipline, and determination are
the keys to success, and I am fully committed to achieving my goals.

A dream in the forest

Lucia runs in the forest, without stopping, her legs simply run automatically, she does not know exactly what she is running from, or what she is afraid of, the only thing she knows is that she must run, run as fast as she can, her feet are bare, full of dirt, her clothes are a
semi-transparent white blanket covering her body, in the forest there is only darkness, but Lucia’s instincts are active.

At the end Lucia sees a pile of leaves and bushes in front of her, with thorns and roses, when she touched the bush with her finger, a thorn touched her, and a drop of blood fell to the ground, the thing that was chasing her gets even closer, and each time it seems to growl louder,
and each time it seems to get bigger. Then Lucia prefers not to know what is chasing her and, closing her eyes with faith, she passes the bushes full of thorns and roses, getting wounds all over her body, while the semi-transparent blanket that covered her body was torn.

Lucia stopped, and opened her eyes, when she was perplexed by the paradise before her. Around there were trees, not just any trees, large trees full of fresh, green leaves, not like the trees in the forest all withered with purple leaves, the grass that touched his feet was soft, like the mane of a well-groomed horse, in the center there was a lake, with water as crystal clear as the crystals themselves, along with lotus flowers floating on the water.

Lucia notices that she no longer hears the thing that was chasing her, so Lucia takes off her semi-transparent blanket along with her other clothes, and walks slowly to the lake, when she submerges herself in the lake, and the wounds on her body due to the thorns heal completely, except for the wound on her finger, then Lucia lets her wavy black hair float through the water, as much as Lucia lets herself be carried away by the peace and tranquility in her mind, closing her eyes.

But Lucia wakes up to the alarm on her phone. “In the end it was just a dream,” Lucia thinks, but she doubts, because she felt it very real, the fear, the adrenaline, the fatigue, the pain and the tranquility she felt. But Lucia stops thinking about that and gets ready to go to work.

Lucia looks at her finger and notices that it has a scar, one that she had never noticed or had. Lucia thinks if the dream was real but then she thinks it was something else. Passing the door of her house going to work. While a dark and malevolent shadow begins to chase her.

WINGLESS ANGEL

I was born in a kingdom with underground passages. The king was a tyrant and the queen a woman made up of lies. Poverty, lowliness, and humiliation. I was raised like a guinea pig for experiments. I was raised with the seed of a soul. I have wanted wings since I was a child.

Since I was a child, I wished to fly away from the harshness and darkness of this life. An old man once said to me: “I want to fly. Nothing is certain in this world, but whoever denies heaven will be denied by heaven. I believed it.

I began to have a will to the sun. I knew that even in the land of underground passageways, we are made up of the power of the heavens and the earth. It is not a flight to the top. Rather, we fly to the bottom. To the very depths of humanity.

The ugliness of human beings, their meanness toward the upper class and their pride toward the lower class, became my strength. Wingless flight. I descended to the bottom of the underground passage. There, the living had no purpose, and their souls were as good as dead. Here it became clear to me for the first time that I was an angel without wings.

I planted the seeds of my soul in them without reserve. The will to the sun. With their last strength, they ran up the underground passageway and escaped to the earth. To a land without a tyrannical king and a false queen.

Burnt by the sun and with blinded eyes, they ran up to a high cliff. Then, arms outstretched, they soared toward the sun, one after the other, light and full of happiness.

Received the Rekitei Shinei Award in Japan, 2019. Invited by Master Ngo of Taiwan to write haiku for World Haiku and started writing haiku on the internet. In 2020 Richard Vallance of Ottawa, Canada invited me to write here as well, spreading my haiku around the world. In Arabic-speaking countries, Mahmound Al-Rajabi and Ragbi published a collection of my haiku. Starting in 2019, they published four books of haiku in the Arabic-speaking world. 

I’m the winner of the Arab Golden Planet Award for 2022. Arabic-speaking countries awarded me the title of Doctor of Literature in 2023.

My poems were published in the Albanian magazine “Orfew.al” in 2024. My poem is published in “Daily Global Nation” in Bangladesh. My poem will be published in Polis Magazine, Greece. I’ve received a letter of commendation from Poets UK. My poems were published in a Korean magazine. I have a poem published in Kolkata Jishu International Poetry Magazine, India, and a poem published in a Greek electronic magazine. 

I’ve had a poem published in Poetry Planetariat, Nepal. A collection of my poems were published in Bengali-speaking countries. Three of my poems were published in Half-Yearly magazine in India. Three of my poems were published in Raft of Dreams Literary Magazine. One of my poems was published in Hyperpoem, Nepal. A poem was published in Sophy Chen’s Translation World Poetry Yearbook in China. 

My poem was published in Polis Magazine, courtesy of Eva Lianou Petropou, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Greece and a kind friend. My poems are published in the British art media. My poems will be published in Resonance and Roots Poetry Anthology. (I seem to have forgotten the names of magazines and newspapers in which my poems appeared due to my negligence. My apologies）.

The English poetry collection ‘The Silence of Time’ is currently available on Amazon.  Japanese Poetry Collections: The Boat on the Mountain, The Soul Book / The Cripple of My Soul, Poem to the Fools, Eternal Tower, an Arabic language haiku collection, Snowy Night, Buson’s Brush, Whereabouts of the River, and The Number of my Sorrows

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Toast the brand new year—but watch your step.

You’re entering a hard-hat area.

The future is under construction.

Last year was a train wreck.

Government jumped the tracks,

lay on its side, wheels spinning.

No connections. No direction.

Checks and balances dismantled—

like the White House itself.

No change in sight for 2026.

Supreme Court stooges run amok.

Senators kowtow and kiss the ring.

Laws apply to subjects, not to kings.

Clueless, photogenic figureheads—

folks you wouldn’t trust to water plants—

manage massive budgets, oversee

DOJ, defense, health, education…

Offices are rubber-stamped by suits

playing quid-pro-quo games.

Brushfires flare up—a new blaze daily.

The government shuts down.

No wages paid week after week.

No failures fixed. Forecast: more flames to come.

A vintage jukebox wails out country woes—

but “cheatin’ hearts” give way to urban blues:

tariffs, health care, price of food and gas…

A vinyl record hits a snag, and stutters

Epstein files, Epstein files, Eps…

Distractions needed.

ICE rounds up brown faces,

lynches brown dreams.

Jaws drop as evening news shows secret orders—

Our country bombs Iran,

bombs ships at sea, and all who cling to wreckage.

Are we at war?

Only the war on immigrants—

a short-sighted war. If we win, we lose.

Allies back away from us, cut ties.

Putin pens our foreign policy.

Gifts are now the norm.

Contracts, kickbacks. Jumbo jets. Gold crowns.

Psst! Hey kid, want some candy? Follow me…

The old year’s all used up.

It’s time to buy a ticket to tomorrow.

But wait—the future’s closed for repairs.

So grab a jack-hammer

and blast through gilded lies.

There are no hands to build anew

but ours.

AFFORDABILITY

Scrambled eggs for family brunch

@ 3 eggs per person = Scrooge’s Christmas goose.

Supermarket shelves have upped each sign.

Economy is this—our daily bread.Our rent, gas, spending cash.

Our shoes and socks.

Tariffs wear masks, stand with pistols drawn.

Stagecoach– robbed before it hits Dodge City. 

You say it’s not a heist?

It’s just a hoax? 

Some billionaire keeps making millions daily?

Dude—he’s the desperado holding guns!

And someone’s turning all that gold bullion

into wall decor to make the White House

Into tacky chic—Motel Versailles.

Building a ballroom.

Using our healthcare to gild the ego of a grumpy man.

Landlords, bankers, butchers get bad raps

trying to make a living, to scrape by…

They’re but the flags, economy’s red alert.

Stock market’s up—but you know who that helps.The 1%. 

Not me, my friend.

Nor you.

Rice and beans and pasta—all imported.

Price hikes—our new diet.

Get a job,but now commuting’s pricey—and we’re lucky.

So many out of work.

No food. No home. 

We measure fitness by the price of eggs. 

PARENTS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS HUMAN SOCIETY

How sons and daughters should be brought up, parents are very touchy in this matter. They use all their powers, even if they have to go for loans, to offer them a world of surety and security. They cannot be faulted in their passion to make all the provisions for the happy stay of their offspring. But some obvious facts that we have to contend with are that the over-protected and pampered sons and daughters of the rich are worst examples of humanity. They have power and wealth which they squander and make life difficult for people who want to live life with dignity.  

If a father is a great painter, can he make his son also a painter, and at that, great too like him? A businessman can bequeath his organization to his son, but has he made the son equal to the task he is going to inherit? We see great organizations and establishments which disappeared when they passed into the hands of crafty or craft-less offspring. We have this equation before us: Wealthy parents have sons and daughters who squander wealth and prove good for nothing and the establishment crumbles as soon as the father is gone. We also have another equation. When the parents are financially weak, and suffer indignities in society because of their poverty, the sons and daughters work hard and rise to high positions. These are far better specimens of humanity, who have seen poverty and who have struggled hard to gain position in society.

Creating Artificial Scarcity

I feel every father who has wealth should not lavish it on his son or daughter. He must create an artificial scarcity for them. Let them feel the pinch and work hard. There is nothing bad in it if he sends his son to work and earn his livelihood, so that he knows the value of being useful to society and learns the art of living with others. This is a world society which we all inherit, and we must know how to share this commonwealth of joy and pain, which are shared for us all. We cannot create young men and women who know everything of plenty and have no knowledge of penury.

When I see fathers doting on their sons, and mothers killing their daughters, I feel how sinful we are. We are not ourselves, we are a part of human society, where we are expected to add to its well-being. If we are centred on our self, or our family, it is a foolish exercise. And it is being practised on an astronomical scale. Parents are worried only about their sons, and little less for their daughters, provide them every joy, every amenity. So far so good. But what is the result of this doting? Particularly, for the society in which we are living? We are giving to society men and women with twisted sensibilities, women and men who could not grow to their potential, people who were made to choose to be parasites.

If a man has to work hard in life, face many struggles, and suffer so many wants and losses, he becomes humble and wise too. But, when he stops all these forces of correction from his son, and gives him a protective atmosphere, it means that son will never rise to those heights to which his father had risen. When we stop our sons and daughters from facing rough weather, [to an extent, it can be excused] but in order to make them men and women in the real sense, so that they could develop their own capabilities to the maximum, they need to be in the ocean as an independent entity.

Protection destroys their potential. You can just cast a look around and see, how my kids who are under protection, they have to be helped in getting jobs, in staying in jobs, and cannot take independent decisions. It is parasitism of the worst kind. Parents must realize their duty towards their sons and daughters. It is poverty of wisdom and foresight if we end up scuttling their progress and growth as human beings, which is a cumulative loss to human society.

Author

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, with an opus of 190 plus books, is Laureate of the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards.  His name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Anand’s work embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision.

Don’t See Me As One With Everyone

No one in this world can love you as much as I do.
While I love you as much as my life,
Don’t see me as one with everyone.

Your place is in my heart,
Think deeply before melting,
Your destiny’s course is unwavering,
Don’t see me as one with everyone.

May my feelings not be hurt,
May my respects not diminish,
May my anxieties not grow,
Don’t see me as one with everyone.

Don’t you know, my delicate lover?
There are a thousand eager lovers, one lover,
The vast world is too small for my heart,
Don’t see me as one with everyone.

Don’t tell me what to do; from your troubles,
The bird of your soul flies away from its homeland,
You will mourn after you,
Don’t see me as one with everyone.

A Few Words About Myself

I was born in the Gelendost district of Isparta province and retired from a tax office. I started writing poetry when I was 13 or 14. I love reading and writing. I believe poetry is the most national of literary forms. I believe that even the most beautiful translation cannot achieve the beauty of the language in which the poem was written. Every poem is beautiful in the language it was written. Every poem is a secret of the poet. My poems contain small messages for those who enjoy reading between the lines.

POETRY IS THE POET’S HEART MARK AND THE SECRET OF THE HEART. Where emotion alone dominates, reason fades, yet without a measure of reason, there is no art. A poet stands on that knife-edge between dreams and reality. The greatest danger for a poet is liking every poem he writes, finding every poem perfect. Such a poet cannot endure hardship to achieve better.

Özcan İşler

Kilitli Kırk Kapı Kalbim Bir gidecek bir gelecek, Gelen geçen hanı değil. Herkes haddini bilecek, Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Ne umut ne can öğütür, Ne mavi boncuk dağıtır, Son sözü aklına getir, Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Sevince ateşe atmam, Verilen sözü unutmam, Uzanan her eli tutmam, Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Ne sen yorul ne beni yor, Bilene sor, duyana sor, Girmesi zor, çıkması zor, Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Sevilen sevgiden bıkmaz, Durduk yere hatır yıkmaz, Her gün biri girip çıkmaz , Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Ölümlüyüz vaktimiz dar, Çok kapı açacak kadar, Ne ömür var ne sabır var, Kilitli, kırk kapı kalbim. Özcan İşler