First of all, we’re sharing the new project of young leader Muslima Olimova. The online platform Muslima Academy is a secular youth-led educational initiative empowering students with digital skills, international opportunities, and career readiness. More information here.

Also contributor Christopher Bernard has work included in the new summer issue of literary magazine Caveat Lector. Secondly, contributor Timothee Bordenave will have his painting Carte a Jouer auctioned off at L’Olympia.

Disabled contributor, lyric essayist, and ALS activist Katrina Byrd suffered hurricane damage to her home and seeks support to rebuild and make ends meet while she’s getting ready to move. Whatever folks can contribute will make a real difference.

South African poet and essayist Abigail George, whom we’ve published many times, shares the fundraiser her book’s press has created for her. She’s seeking contributions for office supplies and resources to be able to serve as a speaker and advocate for others who have experienced trauma or deal with mental health issues.

Also, the Educational Bookshop in Jerusalem, a store that has the mission of peaceful dialogue and education, invites readers to donate new or gently used books (all genres) that have been meaningful to them, with a note enclosed for future readers about why the books were meaningful. (The books don’t have to be about peace or social justice or the Mideast, although they can be). Please send books here. US-based Interlink Publishing has also started a GoFundMe for the store.

Writer and playwright Gina De Vries has been awarded a fellowship to receive professional coaching from the Lambda Literary Foundation for her drama exploring and challenging the “Doom Loop” narrative about American cities. She’s raising a small amount of cash to cover the portion of the cost that she’s expected to cover.

Next, we have a group of young early-career UC Davis academics who hope to attend an important conference in the field of climate science, but need to privately raise cash to replace grant funds that were removed due to changing conditions in the U.S. They’ve been hosting bake sales to make up the difference.

We’re spreading the word about Claire Jones and Amaranthia Sepia and their work through Sista Creatives Rising, creating accessible virtual shows, spotlighting and giving small grants to women of color to pursue their creative dreams. They’ll host a new show this fall, tickets will be available soon, and are inviting people to donate to celebrate Juneteenth! Any donations we receive will help us support our team, speakers and tech needs such as Adobe, Xfinity Emergency Storm Wi-Fi, editing & captioning apps, accessibility support, and more!

Also, we encourage people to consider supporting the Sun Gallery, which is one of the venues hosting the Hayward (California) Lit Hop festival, co-sponsored each year by Synchronized Chaos Magazine. They’re struggling due to the loss of some important grants and facing possible closure, and we would like to give back to the places that have supported us.

Finally, we’re helping out one of the founders of the Secret Spot, a grassroots performance and visual arts collective launched by low-income artists early in their careers. The Secret Spot is temporarily taking a break while she recovers from injuries sustained in a car accident.

Now, for July’s first issue: Hold This World Loosely. These words of St. Paul from two millennia ago remind us that while there is much to embrace in the world, all is impermanent and we can only protect ourselves from suffering by holding on with a loose grasp. However, this flexibility also frees us to appreciate and create positive change.

Eva Petropoulou Lianou describes the freedom found in holding onto life with a loose hand. Yucheng Tao crafts poetry of fleeting moments, consciousness, grief, and beauty. Dustin Pickering expresses his desire to float away with his love, even down to shadows and the abyss. Jason Ryberg’s poetry evokes dreams, memory, and timelessness. Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa writes of gales of wind and emotion and the cultural wisdom embedded in a Native American dream catcher. Graciela Noemi Villaverde writes elegantly of a summer train adventure and the need to let go of some of the past to embrace the future.

Welcoming personal and societal change and growth can be a positive thing. Qobulova Gulzoda honors the forward-thinking Jadid leaders in Uzbekistan’s heritage who promoted education, science, and literacy. Gulshoda Jorabekovna Baxtiyorova offers up patriotic praise for Uzbekistan’s current presidential administration and its efforts to promote education, science, women’s rights, and athletics. Xoliqulova Husniabonu reflects on the bravery and dedication of her nation’s historical heroes. Priyanka Neogi urges people to achieve personal greatness by working hard to develop their talents and growing in their character and respect for others.

As an example of scientific research, Davlatyorova Iqbol outlines the medical causes of and treatments for hyperglycemia. Anorov Sirojiddin outlines approaches to treating urological diseases. Turning to the arts, Federico Wardal points out two films, flautist Andrea Ceccomori’s “Anita” and Joe Mantegna’s “Kamilah the Miracle Filly,” which have crossed national borders to be featured in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Italy.

Oyatillo Jabboraliev highlights the value of student exchange programs for helping young people learn life skills as well as cultural literacy. Mamatova Diyora explores ways to help students stay motivated to learn foreign languages they don’t frequently hear. Munisa Asimova reflects on the work of a caring teacher who helped her achieve her writing dreams, and Sobirjonova Rayhona also offers up a poetic tribute to a dedicated teacher. Rakhmonova Diyorakhon discusses the importance of experiential and participatory education for young people. Muslima Olimova announces the launch of her online startup which aims to help young people around the world learn the skills that will prepare them for work and also outlines the advantages of different backend programming languages.

Ibodullayeva Dilnura analyzes the effects of combining online and in-person education. Surayyo Nosirova relates her experience with an environmental education project involving young people in solving today’s challenges. Odina Bahodirova highlights the role of environmental education in promoting future sustainability.

Rushana Raupova celebrates the wonder and joy children can bring to the world and her dedication to benefiting them with her life. Aytuvova Khurshida outlines the importance of integrating the latest psychology findings into children’s education.

Mario Loprete renders urban style into the gallery with concrete tributes to rap and culture. Sabina G’iyosiddinova builds upon and expands traditional Uzbek art styles in her abstract work.

Dr. Jernail S. Anand suggests a positive role for artificial intelligence in enhancing human life and promoting pro-social behavior. Tursunova Ismigul suggests strategies, including technology-based platforms, to improve access to healthcare in rural communities.

Speaking of traditional rural villages, Manik Chakraborty revels in gentle, sunny village life. Holding onto the world with a light touch does not mean giving up one’s love for one’s world, heritage or past. Maftuna Rustamova honors the creative legacy of Uzbek poet Zulfiya Khanim. Dilnura Khahhorova affirms the importance of celebrating the traditional culture of Uzbekistan while Bektosh Kenjayev honors the self-sacrificing military heroism of historical tribal leader Shiroq. Iskandarova Dilnoza affirms her Uzbek history and culture in poetry. Mickey Corrigan reflects on the complex and intriguing life of James Bond actor Ian Fleming. John Dorsey speaks in his poetry to American culture, memory, and reflection.

David Sapp expresses thoughtful wonderment and fascination for art and the natural world. Irma Kurti speaks to excitement, love, grief, the sky’s various moods, and summer breezes. John Thomas Allen offers a mystical ode to the esoteric arts. Alan Catlin probes the uncanny side of nature in his surreal poems. Joseph Ogbonna describes a road trip where tension among fellow travelers arose, then dissipated as everyone explored the calm and quiet Nigerian countryside. Saiprakash Kuntamukkala listens to an elegant rainfall. Mahbub Alam reflects on patience and how nature blooms on its own timescale. Christina Chin and Jerome Berglund exchange tan-renga lines about mowing the lawn, ants crawling, film noir, and many other topics.

Mary Bone remembers outdoor winter celebrations with friends and family. Brian Barbeito reflects on escaping a garish urban landscape by taking refuge by the sea. Don Bormon speaks to the vast natural renewal each year after the monsoon rains.

Chimezie Ihekuna praises the power of love and expresses a child’s tender love for their father. Elbekova Shohsanam thanks her parents for their constant and sacrificial love. Mashxura Fazliddinova Nuriddinovna offers up a tribute to both her parents. Wansoo Kim speaks to centering oneself and listening to the voices of faith and conscience rather than other less meaningful distractions. Turkia Loucif celebrates family, love, nature and creativity. Rhian Elizabeth’s maybe i’ll call gillian anderson, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, speaks to family and romantic relationships and makes space for love, grief, and change.

Sometimes remembrance is tinged with sorrow. Poet Hassane Ajbouh carries forth an ecstatic spiritual love through writing of his departed beloved. Mesfakus Salahin’s poetry evokes the pain of separation from a loved one amid the hot monsoon rains. Duane Vorhees writes figuratively, yet sensually, of romantic pairings of opposites and of people left longing or bereft after someone leaves. Greg Hill sends up images of fall, loss, and departure, contrasted with a lively preteen sleepover.

Paul Murgatroyd evokes death, decay, and the persistent memory of youth. J.J. Campbell speaks to aging, disillusionment, loneliness, frustration, and despair. Taylor Dibbert’s narrator reflects on the long shadow of his beloved dog’s memory. Leslie Lisbona mourns a friendship of many years that went awry after her friend’s move and some off-base comments. Mirta Liliana Ramirez remembers a person she lost by the sea they both loved. Stephanie Elendu’s short story presents three different characters grieving the deaths of school children in a Nigerian truck accident from three different perspectives.

Mykyta Ryzhykh speaks to love, physical passion, death, the extreme trauma of wartime, and the psychological violence of having to hide a big part of himself. Palestinian poet Ahmed Miqdad looks to death as a release from the extreme suffering he sees in Gaza and Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews him about his writing and his hopes for peace and human rights in the region. Abdulrasheed Yakubu Ladan also speaks to the human suffering in Gaza and the people’s determination to survive. Patricia Doyne lampoons Donald Trump and the state of American politics and the possibility of war. Noah Berlatsky grieves the loss of a loved one to social violence at the hands of laws and lawmakers who said they didn’t belong, reminding us of the human cost of policies.

Yuldasheva Oyshakhon reminds us to cherish our parents while we have them. Bill Tope remembers the unspoken rejection he felt after losing his father. Maja Milojkovic recollects the ways her deceased father made an impact on her life. Dan Flore writes of the lingering effects of divorce on now-adult children. Abigail George reflects on her loneliness and depression when her own mother forgot her birthday, and how she found comfort from looking to writers and the human experience.

Sayani Mukherjee speaks to feeling part of nature’s family, one of the plethora of creatures in a continually changing universe. Mohidil Sultanova evokes the joy, wonder, and community of a vibrant Uzbek street market, where she can feel the pulse of humanity interacting. Mahmudova Sevara uses cuisine as a lens to explore points of intersection between Uzbek and Korean culture. Bazarbaeva Inabat analyzes business connections between Thailand’s media and tourism industries.

Several students cover themes of cultural exchange within the field of linguistics. Hafizullayeva Kamolaxon outlines the influence of Turkish on the Uzbek language. Nigora Abdurazzakova explores cognitive development in children bilingual in Russian and Uzbek. Tojimurodova Latofat discusses ways to help speakers of Russian, Uzbek, and English remember words. Aliasqarova Muslima discusses attitudes towards regional and country dialects in the Uzbek language. Baxtiyorova Feruza’s essay deals with the role of common nouns and verbs in Uzbek and English speech. Berdiyorova Nargiza compares idiomatic expressions in English and Uzbek. Jo’rayeva Aziza explores multimodal teaching methodologies for Uzbek as a foreign language. Odilova Diyora looks into how translation strategies impact the interpretation of culturally specific terms in Uzbek. Sa’dullayeva Dilshoda highlights the role of language preservation in claiming and reclaiming culture and identity. Nasirova Xurshedabonu looks into ways to help students gain confidence in speaking foreign languages.

Sometimes we experience life as if it’s been mistranslated, as if we aren’t sure exactly what’s happening and what to make of our circumstances and senses. Mark Young writes of off-kilter scenes from daily life, observed from a distance. Iduoze Abdulhafiz escorts us through a holographic world of surreal prose. Yongbo Ma recollects a hazy dream about attempting to repair a muddy road, then adding to the confusion.

Christopher Bernard reflects on what it means to age when one never quite fit with one’s own generation.

Ben Nardolilli explores possibility and reality, human minds and our role in the universe, and suggests that we belong here. Wansoo Kim urges us to pull out of selfishness and despair and follow our consciences as guides. Nasir Aijaz perseveres in his life despite society’s many ills. Jasmina Ergasheva expresses resilience and hope for her future. Murodillayeva Mohinur reflects on her determination to rise towards her dreams even amidst obstacles.

Michael Robinson speaks to the new life and healing he has found in Jesus Christ. Eva Petropoulou Lianou expresses a wish for people to choose humanity over greed, and in another piece translated by Sumaya Al-Essmael, urges peace on earth for everyone’s best interest. Azamova Feruza highlights the importance of peace and stability for developing, or all, nations.

Vo Thi Nhu Mai contributes a gentle, tender love story where a young man finally gets up the courage to embrace his first beloved. Isaac Aju crafts a hopeful, second-chance romance. Sushant Thapa’s piece celebrates friendship and art’s power to encourage the soul.

Peter Cherches contributes a humorous poem making a bold claim to its own existence. Svetlana Rostova highlights the power of words and ventures to rewrite her own story. We hope that this issue inspires and frees you to do the same in your own words and media.

THESE ARE NOT LEAVES

These are not leaves that the autumn

throws on my hair, my shoulders;

they are hands greeting me today

while I drag an old and heavy suitcase

that keeps the seasons we lived together.

These are not raindrops running down

my cheeks, but tears: so limpid and clear.

These are not puddles reflecting now my

face but rivers of thoughts and reflections.

Goodbyes always hurt; they leave you

bitter in the heart, even if, somewhere

out there, a world of magic colors waits…

MY ANIMA, A FEATHER

It was just a quick embrace, like

the elusive flight of a butterfly

brushing in an instant your hair.

It was just a warm hug inside a

body that trembled like a leaf,

that anonymous world, which

was a thousand times much

more familiar than my house.

It was nothing more than a hug,

but who knows why—in those

moments, my anima felt so light,

like a feather that ascends to the sky.

THE SPECTACLE OF THE SKY

It is the same light when I get up fast,

when I run towards the bus like crazy,

when it passes me by and I rest there,

just like a melancholic stain.

It’s the same tree and the same people

I see every day, the same trembling of

leaves and the delicate fall of them.

But the sky shows a diverse spectacle;

sometimes it’s gray, sometimes blue

or covered with a handful of clouds,

so soft and white. It often shows me

a plane that crosses it noisily, just like

a giant bird with its rigid, immovable

wings flying towards the infinite.

IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator and has been writing since she was a child. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. Kurti has won numerous literary prizes and awards in Albania, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, USA, Philippines, Lebanon and China. She was awarded the Universum Donna International Prize IX Edition 2013 for Literature and received a lifetime nomination as an Ambassador of Peace by the University of Peace, Italian Switzerland. In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. In 2021, she was awarded the title of Liria (Freedom) by the Italian-Albanian community in Italy. She received the Leonardo da Vinci and Giacomo Leopardi prizes from the Chimera Arte Contemporanea Cultural Association of Lecce. The same association also honored her with the European Ambassador Award and named her the Best Poet of the Year in 2022.

She received the Grazia Deledda medal and diploma of merit from the National Committee of WikiPoesia on the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian poet. In 2023 she was awarded a Career Award from the Universum Academy Switzerland.

Irma Kurti is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy. She is also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain.

Irma Kurti has published more than 100 works, including books of poetry, fiction and translations. She is one of the most translated and published Albanian poets. Her books have been translated and published in 21 countries.

UROLOGICAL DISEASES AND THEIR MEDICAL TREATMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE SCIENTIFIC REVIEW

Anorov Sirojiddin Nozimjon o’g’li

A student of the Faculty of Medicine, Alfraganus University

Abstract: This comprehensive review explores common urological conditions—urinary tract infections (UTIs), urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), kidney stones, neurogenic bladder, and urological fibrosis syndromes—and their evidence-based medical and minimally invasive treatments. We summarize current pharmacological therapies, endo-urologic procedures, and emerging interventions while highlighting prevention strategies and future research directions.

Keywords: Urological diseases; Urinary tract infections; BPH; Urinary incontinence; Kidney stones; Neurogenic bladder; Pharmacotherapy; Endo-urology; Minimally invasive procedures; Urological fibrosis

Introduction: Urological diseases significantly impact global health, affecting over 26 million individuals annually and causing more than \$11 billion in healthcare expenditures.Effective management of these conditions is critical to improving patient quality of life and reducing the burden on health systems.

COMMON UROLOGICAL DISEASES & THEIR MEDICAL MANAGEMENT

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs remain one of the most common infections in primary and hospital care, especially in women

Antibiotic therapy: remains first-line but contributes to increasing antimicrobial resistance

Non-antibiotic adjuncts(cranberry products, D-mannose, probiotics, NSAIDs, estrogens, immunotherapy) show promise but evidence lacks to fully replace antibiotics

Probiotics: with anti-inflammatory and microbiome-modulating effects, are gaining attention for UTI prevention and recurrence reduction .

Urinary Incontinence: Urinary incontinence (UI) encompasses stress, urge, overflow, and functional types and significantly impairs quality of life.

Conservative method: pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle adjustments, absorbent aids.

Pharmacotherapy: anticholinergics and β3-agonists for urge UI.

Surgery/devices: slings, tension-free tape, artificial sphincters, particularly when conservative methods fail.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): BPH affects >60% of men over 50 and causes lower urinary symptoms such as frequency, urgency, weak flow, and nocturia.

α1-blockers (tamsulosin, alfuzosin) and 5α-reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride) are first-line therapies.

Minimally invasive procedures: Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) offers symptomatic relief with fewer complications, though with higher retreatment rates than TURP.

Surgical gold standard: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is highly effective, albeit with risks.

Kidney stones are commonly managed with non-invasive or minimally invasive approaches:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the standard therapy for stones <20 mm, achieving 80–85% success, with risks of renal hematoma and trauma.

Adjunct α-blockers post-ESWL enhance stone passage.

Endoscopic and percutaneous options** include ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy .

Neurogenic Bladder

Neurogenic bladder arises from neurological disorders (spinal injury, MS, Parkinson’s) and causes retention, incontinence, recurrent UTIs, stones, and renal damag .

Management involves clean intermittent catheterization, behavioral interventions, botulinum toxin injections, antimuscarinics, and surgical reconstruction for refractory cases .

Urological Fibrosis Disorders: Conditions such as Peyronie’s disease and urethral strictures involve fibrotic scarring.

Antifibrotic agents (collagenase injections, mitomycin C, verapamil, interferon) reduce fibrosis and recurrence, with collagenase (CCH) approved for Peyronie’s disease.

CONCLUSION: Urological disorders span infections, functional dysfunction, obstructive, calculi, neurogenic, and fibrotic etiologies. Treatment strategies range from lifestyle modification and antibiotics to pharmacotherapy, minimally invasive procedures, advanced surgeries, and emerging therapies like robotics and tissue engineering. A multidisciplinary, evidence-based, patient‑centered approach is essential to optimize outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce health-care costs.

REFERENCES:

1. Das et al. Probiotics in common urological conditions: narrative review.

2. Systematic review on antifibrotics in urology. *PubMed*

3. Non-antibiotic UTI prevention.

4. Leite G. Multidisciplinary treatment of urological syndromes.

5. Kidney stone disease – ESWL overview.

6. Endo-urology and stone management. *Urology PMC*

7. Urinary incontinence management.

8. Urological health in women – prevention. *J Womens Health PMC*

9. Robotics in urological surgery. *PMC*

10. Alpha‑1 blockers in BPH. *Wikipedia*

11. BPH minimally invasive treatment. 

Oh life, why do you torment my father so?

Day and night he works, without rest at all.

Oh life, why so many trials must he know?

Aren’t his graying hairs proof enough of his toll?

So we lack nothing, he gives all he can,

His hands are worn, scarred, and bruised.

Without pause he runs, a tireless man,

Yet never complains — his pure heart’s not abused.

Oh life, and what about my mother dear,

Why bring sorrow to her gentle soul?

She worked hard, shared her wisdom clear,

Surely joy is her rightful goal?

Oh life, just look at my parents both,

They fulfilled every wish I ever spoke.

If I wanted fancy clothes, they’d say “yes”,

While they themselves wore old, torn cloaks.

So that I wouldn’t lack, when I had asked,

You gave more than enough — my shield, my dad.

“Protect your honor, know your worth,” you’d say,

With teary eyes, my mother would guide my way.

If I were a man, I’d help with the chores,

Even if not much, I’d do something more.

But now — I only ask, this and that,

My troubles I tell you in an endless chat.

In this world, I’m truly in your debt,

May God grant you a long life yet.

Your service to me — I can never repay,

Even if I walked you to Hajj all the way.

My shield, dear father, purest mother mine,

This debt I owe — I know I’ll never unwind.

But if God wills it, in the life to come,

All my blessings I’ll give you — every one!

Elbekova Shohsanam Ne’matjon qizi. Born on July 31, 2002 in the Namangan district of the Namangan region. She graduated from secondary school No. 22 in the district, then from the Uzbek language department of Namangan State University. Currently, she is a 1st-year master’s student at the Namangan State Pedagogical Institute. She has been familiar with poetry and literature since childhood. To date, her poetry collections “Nurli manzil”, “Ayol madhi” have been published. Her poems and articles on various topics are regularly covered in the media. Shohsanam’s goal is to become an accomplished specialist in her profession and share her useful knowledge with the future generation.

Homeland

In the heart of the land, where the rivers flow,

Lies a country, rich with stories to show.

It’s a tapestry of cultures, woven with pride,

A place where diversity stands side by side.

From the bustling cities to the tranquil plains,

The country’s beauty forever remains.

Mountains reaching high, touching the sky,

And valleys so deep, where rivers run by.

In the north, the snow-capped peaks stand tall,

While in the south, golden beaches enthrall.

The east is adorned with lush greenery,

And in the west, deserts stretch endlessly.

The people here, with their spirit so strong,

Sing songs of freedom, for which they long.

They celebrate traditions, old and new,

And honor the land, in all that they do.

The country’s history, a tale of triumph and sorrow,

A journey of resilience, shaping tomorrow.

From ancient civilizations to modern-day grace,

Each chapter adds color to this vibrant place.

The cities pulse with life, a symphony of sound,

Where dreams are pursued, and opportunities abound.

Yet in the countryside, time moves at its own pace,

With fields of gold and open space.

The food is a fusion of flavors so bold,

Reflecting the heritage, centuries old.

Spices that dance on the tongue with delight,

A feast for the senses, morning to night.

The country’s soul lies in its people’s embrace,

Their warmth and kindness, a comforting grace.

They welcome strangers with open arms,

And share their stories, their joys, and their charms.

As the sun sets on this land so fair,

And stars twinkle in the evening air,

The country whispers tales of old and new,

A testament to its beauty, tried and true.

So here’s to the country, with its boundless allure,

A place of wonder, so bright and pure.

May it thrive and prosper, forevermore,

A timeless treasure to adore.

Student of the Uzbek National Institute of Music and Art named after Yunus Rajabi

Father’s Shadow

You’re gone, yet you’re everywhere.

In the scent of morning tea, in the quiet of the house when everything is still.

In a phrase I speak, not knowing I once learned it from you.

You loved cats, dogs, birds — every creature that breathes.

You used to say animals are more honest than people,

and you spoke to them as equals.

They loved you, just as the world did — quietly, but forever.

You would stand in the middle of the room and recite,

with hands that never sought applause,

only to let the feeling pass through you.

In your words lived dignity, warmth,

and that rare closeness that made people fall silent and listen.

You left as gently as you lived.

Without grand words, without noise.

But you didn’t disappear — you became part of everything I love.

Part of me.

Sometimes I feel you near.

In the cat curled in my lap, in the dog’s gaze waiting by the door.

In the voice that guides me when I don’t know where to go.

They say time heals.

Perhaps.

But what you were — it doesn’t fade.

It stayed.

In the way I love, in the way I remain silent, in a gaze that still seeks kindness. Sometimes I write you letters.

No address, no stamp.

Only the heart knows where they go.

And I don’t cry as often now,

but when the wind stirs the curtains —

I know it’s you.

Your gentle spirit, your silence that embraces better.

Maja Milojković was born in Zaječar and divides her life between Serbia and Denmark. In Serbia, she serves as the deputy editor-in-chief at the publishing house Sfairos in Belgrade. She is also the founder and vice president of the Rtanj and Mesečev Poets’ Circle, which counts 800 members, and the editor-in-chief of the international e-magazine Area Felix, a bilingual Serbian-English publication. She writes literary reviews, and as a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and international literary magazines, anthologies, and electronic media. Some of her poems are also available on the YouTube platform. Maja Milojković has won many international awards. She is an active member of various associations and organizations advocating for peace in the world, animal protection, and the fight against racism. She is the author of two books: Mesečev krug (Moon Circle) and Drveće Želje (Trees of Desire). She is one of the founders of the first mixed-gender club Area Felix from Zaječar, Serbia, and is currently a member of the same club. She is a member of the literary club Zlatno Pero from Knjaževac, and the association of writers and artists Gorski Vidici from Podgorica, Montenegro.

The Wandering Hat 

It was a summer night,

the stars were mirrors of a wandering soul,

my friend, a whisper of wind in the countryside,

decided that life was a vibrant song.

We boarded the train, an iron leviathan,

devouring the tracks with its fiery breath,

but in a twist in the fabric of time,

his hat, a balloon, rose into the present.

The train, a river of steel in its bed,

took its emblem, its shadow on the journey,

and he, like a navigator in search of a lasso,

ran after his star, his light, his passenger.

Laughter and wailing danced in the air,

as the train vanished into the gloom,

my friend, a poet in his own disdain,

promised he would return, and he did so in the mist.

In the end, she understood that the waves of fate

sometimes require us to let go of what overwhelms us,

like a hat that flies along a road,

laughter is a compass, and the journey, a feather.

GRACIELA NOEMI VILLAVERDE is a writer and poet from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Rios) Argentina, based in Buenos Aires She graduated in letters and is the author of seven books of poetry, awarded several times worldwide. She works as the World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers and is the UHE World Honorary President of the same institution Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She is the Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL RELATIONS DIVISION, of the UNACCC SOUTH AMERICA ARGENTINA CHAPTER.