Poetry from Duane Vorhees

WALKING IN A SPRING DRIZZLE 

Rain shellacs sidewalk. 

Store window mirrors reflect 

my dim shadowed face. 

STAR ON STAR 

your Virtuosa meets my Athlete 

where we latch unlatch and latch 

we touch on touch 

we breath on breath 

we wet on wet, with fold on fold 

among the night’s mighty echoes 

ecstatic/static/attic’s-tick-tick 

each star as perfect as the next 

in the vast topless sky 

“always” we lie on lie 

HORIZONS 

Tomorrow’s moon 

baldandwhite 

at horizon 

hesitates. 

(thunder’s hero, 

the promise) 

Your looking glass 

ghosts linger, 

your memories 

forever 

themselves; and each 

one’s a wave 

and each, a beach 

that it shaves. 

(moonmirror shows 

the menace) 

Dancing like fire 

in the foam, 

you’re a highwire 

thunderstorm! 

(horizon’s coast, 

the phoenix) 

Your poemcandle 

starts to die. 

First it stutters 

then it sighs — 

our darkhidden 

beginnings, 

unforgiven 

endings. 

(yesterday’s ghost, 

the furnace) 

CAKE’S CONSUMED, CANDLE’S EXTINGUISHED, BALLOON’S POPPED OR DEFLATED

This is the first day

of the last year

of my sixth decade.

The best weather, has it pased?

The days of the new moon aren’t done.

There are kisses to come yet

and tequila worms to swallow.

And thus, I turn off the pensive lights.

THE WHY OF POETRY

Medicine men summon the sacred smoke

of sage sweetgrass and cedar.

They unrein the Dream.

And poets compose.

They unmine the mindfield,

incite

insight.

Poetry from Mark Young

Time / still moves / while standing still

Is political time, is archipelago
time. “Why should we have
half the islands on one time &
the other half on another when
they’re only fifteen minutes apart?”
So some adjusted the local IDL
with an eastern bulge while others
moved it westwards. On Taveuni

Island, in the Fiji archipelago, one
can stand across the actual Prime
Meridian, have one foot in today, the
other in yesterday. Then, without
moving an inch, have one foot in to-
morrow while still balancing in today.

wingding

Pigeons & buses
jostle for space

in the eye of
the hurricane.

alt-Zen

Seeking peace
from a piece
of pizza.


Intelligent Design

He considered poems to be
a form of get well cards, was
always upset that they never
came in addressed envelopes.

A note

Being an expat-
riate doesn’t

mean being an
ex-patriot. I

still cling to my
country of origin.

Fender Bender

A within-subjects study is investi-
gating whether using multidose
vials or old-school flash cards is

more efficacious. Both are some-
what pointless, & may be hazardous.
Even dead batteries can still produce

some electricity. It’s why, to overcome
its innate low speeds, a Pokémon of
Sassy nature welcomes Bitter berries.

Poetry from Pat Doyne

PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES!

A bully. Liar. Con man. Lifelong cheat.
Convicted felon. No respect for law.
Uneducated voters think he’s God—
or sent by God to fix an unfair world
where being male and white is not enough.
They call on God—the other one, on high—
to bless their hatred with prosperity.
And God—the one in D.C—answers prayers
by suing foes, unleashing private armies
on immigrants, and posting diatribes.

But now the presidential crown’s at risk.
Epstein’s ring of wealthy pedophiles
provokes the cry, “Release the Epstein files!”
He stalls, resists, twists arms— then flips. Agrees.
In videos and photos, Don and Jeff
are partying together, side by side.
So—yes, he says he’ll do the big reveal.
But will the files be whole– or missing chunks,
with names redacted, segments lost or trashed?
And Epstein’s dead. Convenient. He can’t talk.

You think we’ll finally see hard evidence
that “grab ‘em by the pussy”—basic rape,
two dozen charges, one conviction– rape
has always been a hobby? Would an isle
of teen-aged girls be catnip to this tom?
Release the Epstein files? He signed the bill.
But will we ever see them? Sure! When hell-
fire freezes solid, grocery prices fall,
and health care is available to all.
His handlers won’t finance a losing game.

Copyright 11/25 Patricia Doyne

Essay from Sarvar Eshpulatov

The Importance of Digital Literacy in the Modern World

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, digital literacy has become an indispensable skill for individuals across all walks of life. Digital literacy means more than just the ability to use a computer or smartphone; it encompasses the capacity to critically evaluate digital content, communicate effectively through digital platforms, and safely navigate the online environment.

Enhancing Communication and Social Interaction

With the rise of the internet and digital devices, communication has transcended traditional boundaries. Digital literacy empowers people to connect instantly through emails, social networks, and video calls. This accessibility enriches personal relationships and expands professional networks, fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

Facilitating Access to Information and Lifelong Learning

The digital world offers an enormous amount of information at one’s fingertips. Having the skills to find, assess, and apply this information accurately is crucial in education, research, and day-to-day decision-making. Digital literacy encourages self-directed learning and adaptation in an era where knowledge rapidly evolves.

Boosting Employment and Economic Growth

In the modern job market, digital competence is often a prerequisite. From basic computer skills to advanced data analysis, employees with strong digital literacy can perform tasks more efficiently and innovate within their roles. Organizations that invest in digital transformation experience improved productivity, competitive advantage, and market growth, which in turn stimulates the economy.

Addressing Challenges and Promoting Responsible Use

Despite its advantages, digital technology also poses risks such as misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy breaches. A digitally literate person understands these challenges and applies ethical standards while using technology. Awareness of cybersecurity practices and digital etiquette ensures a safer online environment for everyone.

Supporting Social Inclusion and Empowerment

Digital literacy reduces the digital divide by enabling marginalized groups to access resources and opportunities previously out of reach. It fosters empowerment by providing tools for civic engagement, access to healthcare information, and participation in digital economies.

Conclusion

Digital literacy is foundational for navigating the complexities of the 21st century. It enhances communication, education, employment, and social inclusion while promoting responsible digital citizenship. Societies that prioritize digital literacy are better equipped to harness technology’s full potential, ensuring sustainable development and global connectivity.

Poetry from Kavi Nielsen

murmuration


the delicate thrum, heartbeat through my bound chest,
my palm pressed there like a promise,
every breath stolen from me like a murmuration of living feeling seeing i’m living
in the stars like a superhero. only now.


only now does the murmuration of my heartbeat slow, the murmuration of birds slow their pace. i’ve
been taught to exist without realizing.. the gentle murmurs
of your heart have become a gift.


i didn’t realize i missed you until i stood
under the sky with the world opened up to me and i murmuredation, please come home. we are both home.


if we are both home then why do i feel lost?
when my mom told me it wasn’t a panic attack


all i wanted was you. your delicate murmuration thrumming through my bones. your comfort.
when i picture you i feel safe.
i watch birds and i feel like i’m floating away. i could
take off in search of them but i think you’d notice.


i hope so. i notice every murmuration, we are a murmuration, aren’t we? a flock of birds,
we rise, we fall, i missed you you you
it’s hard to realize i missed you until i see you


and you say you missed me and i say it back and i feel right again,
not just a stolen wish floating away to a star-ling.

Poetry by Jamal Garougar

Older middle aged man with gray hair and a mustache and a dark blue sweater outside in a garden with blooming plants behind him.
 Nourina ⭐

By Jamal Garougar 🇲🇦

Since time immemorial,
the heart has been digging a well inside me
to listen to its own water…
No one knows
that peace begins with a single drop
negotiating with its stone
before leaping toward the light.

I walk,
and nameless birds hang from my shoulders,
gathering what falls from my thoughts
as if collecting seeds
waiting for the season of departure.

I watch the trees
hide faces in their bark—
one resembles my childhood,
another the world’s trembling fear,
and a third
I do not know,
yet it reassures me
as it watches
from the shimmer of night between the branches.

I move forward,
and the things around me shift
as if the universe
were readjusting its geometry
to the rhythm of my heart…
Stones listen,
the air takes notes,
grass spells out
my footsteps
like a child learning the alphabet
for the very first time.

I love…
not a single face,
but the space
between faces,
the luminous space
shaped by the quiet passage
of the heart.

I love how water
negotiates with the earth,
and how the earth
learns from the water’s flow
the tenderness of surrender.

I also love
that everything in the universe
is suspended by a delicate thread
held by the Creator
from an unseen place—
and yet
this thread breaks
only when we close our hearts.

I stop,
and memory escapes through a window,
from which a woman appears
whom I do not know,
yet I recognize
the way she calms the wind
as it brushes past her…
and I understand that love
is not a person,
but a ritual
that souls learn
only when they set themselves aside.

I grow silent,
and meaning flows
from unknown places,
as if language
had borrowed the voice of clouds
and left me
fallen in wonder.

And when night descends,
I feel my heart
closing its doors
and opening its single window
toward a sky
that breathes within me…
a sky
where every star
knew my name
before I was born,
and knew that I came
to plant
a small garden
where the world may rest
for just a moment.

Thus,
I become a sentence
in a book vaster than Earth,
and my life
becomes a code written
on a faint light,
read by angels
searching for a new reason
why humans
should not grow weary
of carrying this planet.

And here, within every heartbeat,
the heart continues to whisper…
Nourina is not the end of the poem—
but the beginning of everything.

Poetry from Eva Petropoulou, translated to Mandarin by Yongbo Ma

Black and white headshot of middle aged East Asian man with thick short dark hair and his hand resting on his nose.

伊娃·佩特罗普卢·利亚努

怪异的日子

怪异的行为

人们迷失了方向

就像鸟儿或鲸鱼一样

他们失去了方向感

他们互相残杀

他们嫉妒

他们不愿与邻居共享最好的

地球厌倦了人类

Middle aged European light skinned woman with shoulder length short brown hair, lipstick, and a blue and tan scarf.

Strange days

Strange behaviour

People are not going to correct direction

Like birds or whales

They lost their orientation

They are killing eachother

They are jealous

They don’t want the best of the neighbor

Earth is tired of humans

被遗忘

我们曾祈求不被遗忘……

但我们却忘记了生活

我们忘记了爱

我们忘记了对那些曾经帮助过我们的人说声你好,说声谢谢!

我们曾祈求耐心

我们曾祈求善良

但他们从未教导我们关于自私的人

关于邪恶的人

他们如同毒蛇,就在我们身边

等待着我们的时刻

那些微小的时刻

到来

然后毁灭我们

我们曾祈求相信自己

我们曾祈求积极向上

但他们从未解释过

我们将是唯一一个必须做到这一点的人

因为人们忙于发动战争

赚钱

攫取权力

我做了他们要求我做的事,但我却被遗忘……

在战场上……

Forgotten

We have asked not to be forgotten….

But we forget to live

We forget to love

We forget to say hello and thank you to people they were there for us!!

We asked to be patient

We have asked to be kind

But they never teach us about the selfish person

The evil people

They snakes they are among us

That are waiting for our moments

The small moments

To come

And destroy

We have asked to believe in ourselves

We have asked to be positive

But they never explained that

We will be the only that we must do that

As people are occupied with make war

Make money

Have power

I do what  they asked but i walk forgotten….

In the battle field…

女人们

我在想,我自由吗?

你觉得自由吗?

每天我都走在充满无限可能和机遇的街道上……

但没有人注意到我

因为我是个女人……

女人被利用的程度简直难以言喻……

从出生那天起

女人就需要教育孩子

为孩子做饭

教他思考……说话……

行动……

女人要做的事情太多了

但之后呢……

女人需要

女人渴望

女人的话语

一个不存在的人

直到有一天

你看着镜子

你看到你的脸

你看到你的心

你看到你的身体

你却认不出自己

因为你已经被利用了

被拒绝利用了

被孤独利用了

被虚伪的人利用了

被错误的决定利用了

失去了信仰!!!

Women. 

I was wondering if I am free? 

Do u feel free? 

Nooo 

Every day I walk in a street of possibilities and opportunities.. 

But nobody look at me 

As i am a woman.. 

It is unspeakable how much a woman is used.. 

From day one 

A woman needed to educate the child 

To cook for a child 

To learn him how to think.. Speak.. 

Act..  

A lot for a woman to do 

But what happens after..

A woman need 

A woman wish 

A woman word 

Inexistant person 

Until one day 

You will look at the mirror 

You see your face 

You will see your heart 

You will see your body 

And u will not recognize it 

Because u will be so used 

Used from the rejection 

Used from the loneliness 

Used from the fake people 

Used from the bad decisions 

Without faith!!