The Heart Longs to Be Reborn

The heart desires to be reborn anew,

This life has worn it down, exhausted, torn.

Cut sorrow’s thread that binds the soul so tight,

The years have ripped its laughter out by force.

To everyone it offered help each day,

For good souls, never sparing breath or bone.

But now, within its wounded, open chest,

Thick clots of blood are flowing like a stream.

The heart desires to be reborn again,

They stoned it down without a single fault.

From slander’s stones, abruptly crushed and bruised,

In silent nights it wept, unseen, alone.

The heart still yearns to rise and live once more,

It cries aloud: O Lord Almighty, hear!

Though innocent, I stand condemned, O God,

From You alone I beg for refuge now.

If nothing’s left of me but brittle bones,

Let that remain — I ask for nothing more.

The heart still longs, still aches to be reborn.

Orinboyeva Madinabonu is a first-year student of Group 25.23, majoring in Pedagogy, at the Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology, and Art Studies of Fergana State University. She is a holder of a National Certificate and the author of numerous articles.