Poetry from Priyanka Neogi

Love Reaction

Your love makes me shine,

Your kindness makes me feel,

Your heart is a pure heart,

Realising everything matters.

You know how much I care about you,

It reflects love.

Which encourages me,

 for further development steps.

You are reasonable for my healthy good thinking,

Your pic in my mind pushes me,

Force me for innovation and creation.

New hope, light & hard work.

You are beside me, my atmosphere is cool,

I got more energy from energy,

Every day create new dream, new achievement,

Because you have with me, it is reaction of love.

Date: 15.09.2026

Amb. Dr. Priyanka Neogi is from Coochbehar. She is an administrative controller of United Nations’ PAF, a librarian, a CEO of Lio Messi International Property & Land Consultancy, international literacy worker, sports & peace promoter, dancer, singer, reciter, live telecaster, writer, editor, researcher, literary journalist, host, beauty queen, international co-ordinator of the Vijay Mission of Community Welfare Foundation of India.

Poetry from Milena Pčinjski

THE LABELERS

Do you see

how they have labeled us

and divided us?

They say: you are a Doctor,

and you – a Professor!

You are a Peasant,

and you – an Auto Mechanic!

You are a Journalist,

and you – a Poet!

What do you,

Gentlemen Labelers,

know about who I am?

Language is a marvel!

How conveniently it governs our consciousness.

Our mind is like an overpacked suitcase of concepts

that we carry with us wherever we go.

If only it were always useful!

How often we pull out words like laundry,

yet not a single one truly fits us.

We dress ourselves in that laundry

so that we will not remain naked.

For what would we do then?

Naked, improper,

unacceptable before the „world”.

Oh God, what misery.

You see, without words

we cannot enter this world of ours.

Just as we must put on some clothing,

so we clothe ourselves in words,

yet we often do not know how to choose them well.

So we lean on other people’s words,

on other people’s thoughts,

on knowledge someone else has gathered for us.

It would be better for all of us

to handle concepts

a little more precisely and honestly.

It would be more pleasant,

and more honorable,

to remain silent about what we do not know.

But who cares anymore

about meaning and truth?

They say – that is for Philosophers.

We are Ordinary People.

The Philosopher carefully opens his suitcase

and even more carefully chooses his clothes,

while the Ordinary man simply throws things around as best as he can.

And then, like a parrot,

we repeat the same phrase countless times:

Where is this world heading?

Milena Pčinjski, MA – Biography

Milena Pčinjski (Милена Пчињски) was born on October 28, 1986, in Prokuplje, Republic of Serbia, and currently resides in Ćuprija. She holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature. She is recognized as an international poet who writes in both Serbian and English. Her poetry has been published in numerous collections and anthologies of contemporary Serbian literature, as well as in international and online poetry compilations. Her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Russian, Romanian, Bengali, and Finnish.

She is a member of several book clubs in Serbia and regularly participates in literary events and poetry competitions. In 2025, she published her poetry collection Verses Imprisoned (Заробљени стихови). She works as an online English professor and also serves as a translator and editor for Area Felix, an international Serbian e-magazine dedicated to creative literature and culture. Additionally, she is a proofreader for the Association of Writers –SKOR, where she also serves as the President for the Pomoravlje Region.

Her collection Verses Imprisoned was awarded the Honorary Silver Diploma by the Orthodox Cultural and Artistic Almanac Arina NN in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025.

Milena is an honorary member of the International Advisory Board of the Academy of Farsala in Greece, as well as of the Global Literary Society, where she received a Certificate of Appreciation for „her excellent contribution to the Global Movement of Positive Literature” from Bhagirath Choudhary, the founder of the organization. She is currently preparing her second poetry collection.

Poetry from Graciela Noemi Villaverde

Ballad of the Moon and My Homeland

The moon is not a distant lantern

but the hand that caresses the mountain range

and descends slowly, through the valleys,

until it touches the river that bears the name of us all.

It leans over the endless plains

like one who peers into the heart of what they love,

and each stalk of wheat that bends beneath its light

is a vow silently renewed.

It knows the paths the wind travels,

the ancient footprints the earth does not forget,

the slow fire that dwells in every heart

—that fire that does not go out even when storms pass.

There is no distance that separates them,

no wall, no border, no oblivion.

The moon is the mirror where my homeland sees its soul,

and my homeland is the land where the moon learns to be eternal.

They embrace in the wordless night,

like two lovers who no longer need to say anything:

she, light that falls;  The homeland, the land that receives,

and between the two, the whole world is born each dawn

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 in the poetry genre, awarded several times worldwide. She works as World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers, and UHE World Honorary President of the Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She’s a Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet in the Educational and Social Relations Division of the UNACCC South America, Argentina Chapter.

Poetry from Zlatan Demirović

MAESTRAL

Why does this

breeze rustle so strangely tonight,

while it

starves the sleepy face of the decrepit old man with freshness?

It’s not that it only carries pollen

and sprinkles the fertile earth with seeds,

nor does it play with the waves,

to wake up the lulled fisherman,

it’s just…

It also brings the aromas of youth

that make the latter’s sad eyes water with nostalgia.

Images and scents of the most beautiful times

that he is dreaming of right now.

So he wonders,

whether time really exists,

or is it just a

stretched canvas of a painter,

on which colors flow and mix

with the scent of oil, seaweed and lavender…

Or does it connect the horizons beneath the

Stribor forest

with the murmuring mountain stream,

announcing the dawn…

While in the night sky he discerns

the last sketches of shooting stars,

which have already written the destinies of many,

including this one, whose simple life

has been struggling from the burden since time immemorial,

with great difficulty,

and without any particular meaning…

While his last wishes sink like a stone

through the whirlpools of ignorance,

and now, as if in a delirium,

in the middle of the abyss between sleep and reality

he tries to discern,

not even knowing why,

and again without meaning,

why tonight

this breeze is rustling

so strangely…

Zlatan Demirović is originally from Croatia. Currently lives and works in America. He is a poet, essayist, publisher. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of PRODIGY MAGAZINE USA, PRODIGY PUBLISHED USA and PRODIGY LIFE ACADEMY USA. He is the author of many works.

He organizes and manages the free publication of the works of creative people from different countries so that they can be recognized worldwide. He is a promoter of Peace, Friendship and Culture in the World. He is the founder of the NOBLE LAUREATE AWARD for 2026.

Poetry from Mahbub Alam

Waves of Tears

Sometimes, tears come
The way the waves of the tide
Crash upon the shore of the sea.

From the chest,
Through the head—
They crash upon the eyes.

From the feet to the sky,
Water surges everywhere,
Overflowing without end.

Upon the breast
Of the waterless world,
The waves of the tears
Leave behind some unknown mark.

They wash away
All the sorrow and pain,
All the hurt and resentment,
All the wounds and blows.

Everything is washed away.

The world appears a little brighter,
A little clearer.

Unknowingly,
Pure air settles upon the body,
And some tender, cooling touch
Seems to brush against me.

Within such a Jalsa hall,
A sudden stirring—
Could it ever bloom
As a flower upon a lotus leaf?

The cry of a heart torn open
Rolls across heaven and earth —

Waves play on,
waves play on,
waves play on.

Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh

16 September, 2026.

Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.

Once when he was in grade ten in 1990, his Bangla letter was selected as the best one from Deutsche Welle, Germany Radio that broadcast Bangla news for the Banglalee people. And he was given 50 Dutch Mark as his award. They would ask letters from the listeners to the news in Bangla and select one letter for the best one in every month.     

From 17 to 30 September, in 2018 he received a higher training in teaching English language in Kasetsart University of Thailand for secondary level students through a government order from education ministry. 

On 06 November 2015 he achieved Amjad Ali Mondal Medal for his contribution in education field by a development organization in the conference and felicitation function for the honorable personalities at Rajshahi College Auditorium. 

On 30 December 2017 from West Bengal in India he was declared a ‘Literary Charioteer’ in Bangobandhu Literary and World Bango Conference and they awarded him with a Gold Medal in their International Literary Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony.

In 2018, he achieved Prodipto Lirerary Award in Prodipto Literary Conference at Kesorhat, Rajshahi for poems in Bangla literature. He received honorary crest from the administration of Chapainawabganj District Literary Conference and Cultural Function in 2021 and 2022 consecutively. 

His poems have been published in many international online magazines such as Juntos Por las L Raven Cage Zine, and Area Felix.  His poems have been translated and published in Argentine and Serbian, and he participated in many international online cultural meetings. 

Essay from Mahfuza Abduqaxor qizi Sharipova

INTERPRETATION OF PRINCESSES IN THE NOVEL “ONA LOCHIN VІDОSI”

Abstract

This article analyzes the artistic interpretation of Timurid princesses in Pirimqul Qodirov’s novel Ona Lochin Vidosi. The study examines how the female characters Saroymulk Khonim, Shodimulk Begim, Khonzoda Begim, Husn Nigor Khonim, Habiba Sultan Begim, Robiya Sultan Begim, Feruza Begim, and Gulruhbonu are portrayed through diverse character traits. Particular attention is paid to the fact that the author emphasizes not merely external beauty but also the spiritual and moral qualities of the princesses, including motherhood, loyalty, political activity, courage, and devotion.

Keywords: Pirimqul Qodirov, Ona Lochin Vidosi, Timurid princesses, Saroymulk Khonim, Khonzoda Begim, Habiba Sultan Begim, Robiya Sultan Begim, Feruza Begim, artistic interpretation.

Introduction

In historical novels, the process of creating images of historical figures combines documentary information with the author’s artistic imagination. In particular, the portrayal of women who lived alongside rulers and influenced family and political relations is one of the factors determining the historical and aesthetic value of a literary work. Pirimqul Qodirov’s novel Ona Lochin Vidosi depicts the complex period of the Timurid dynasty and presents not only more than a dozen princes and rulers but also numerous princesses through artistic interpretation.

The female characters in the novel are not presented according to a single stereotypical model. Some princesses appear as wise mothers and devoted wives, others as active participants in political struggles, while still others are portrayed as complex and contradictory personalities. Therefore, it is important to examine the portrayal of the princesses on the basis of their individual characters, their roles within the family, their attitudes toward state affairs, and their moral and spiritual qualities.

Main Part

In Ona Lochin Vidosi, Saroymulk Khonim is portrayed as one of the most influential figures among Timurid women. Historical sources record her position within Amir Temur’s family, her interest in education and enlightenment, and her participation in matters of state administration. In Qodirov’s interpretation, these aspects enrich the content of her artistic image. She is portrayed as a wise woman who directly influenced the upbringing of such representatives of the dynasty as Shahrukh Mirza, Muhammad Sultan Mirza, Khalil Sultan Mirza, and Ulugbek Mirza. Her advice to her daughter-in-law Gavharshod Begim embodies concepts of court etiquette, responsibility, and family duty.

The tragic fate of Saroymulk Khonim in the plot further emphasizes the spiritual elevation of her character. The novel presents her mysterious death and suspicions that she was poisoned. Thus, the writer connects the life of a wise woman, attentive to the upbringing of children and supportive of education and enlightenment, with political conflicts within the royal court. Through this character, the continuity of goodness and loyalty in the memory of subsequent generations is emphasized.

The character of Shodimulk Begim differs sharply from that of Saroymulk Khonim. Although the writer particularly emphasizes her external beauty, he also reveals contradictions within her inner world. At a time when Khalil Sultan was indifferent to matters of state, Shodimulk Begim actively interferes in political processes. Her decisions concerning her rivals and her involvement in the circumstances surrounding Saroymulk Khonim’s death make her character more complex. Thus, the author portrays the princess not merely as a symbol of beauty but as a contradictory personality whose decisions are influenced by power and personal interests.

The image of Khonzoda Begim combines maternal love, loyalty, and a tragic fate. She is portrayed as a woman who was forced into marriage twice amid historical circumstances and who later experienced the tragic fate of her son, Khalil Sultan. Her inability to endure the death of her son and her passing away shortly afterward demonstrate the strength of maternal feelings. At the same time, her fate artistically expresses the human consequences of marriages based on kinship and political interests.

The interpretation of Husn Nigor Khonim is also connected with the inner suffering of a mother. She is portrayed as the wife of Ulugbek Mirza and the mother of Abdulatif. Abdulatif’s opposition to his father causes deep psychological suffering for Husn Nigor Khonim. In her conversation with Gavharshod Begim, she expresses shame over her son’s actions and distress that her grandchildren have also been subjected to reproach. Therefore, in this character, the responsibility of a mother for her child’s fate and the emotional experiences of a mother’s heart are emphasized more strongly than her status as a princess.

Habiba Sultan Begim is portrayed in the novel as an active and positive female character. Along with her beauty, her wisdom, good manners, and loyalty are revealed through the actions of other characters. Gavharshod Begim proposes marrying Habiba Sultan Begim to Abdullah Mirza in an attempt to prevent him from becoming involved in internal conflicts. As a result, the heroine’s personal qualities become an important part of the development of the plot. Habiba Sultan Begim uses her valuable possessions to persuade officials and save her husband, Abdullah Mirza, from imprisonment and the threat of death. Thus, her loyalty is not merely a passive emotion but is demonstrated through practical action.

In the portrayal of Robiya Sultan Begim, political and educational activity occupies a special place. She rises to the status of an influential princess at the court of Abulkhayr Khan and influences the upbringing of her children, particularly the attitude of Kuchkunchi Khan toward science and culture. Her ability to instill respect for Amir Temur in her son and develop his interest in scientific and cultural heritage demonstrates the educational power of her character. Robiya Sultan Begim’s support for protests against Abu Said also presents her as a princess who directly responds to political events.

Courage and devotion are the leading characteristics of Feruza Begim. She is portrayed as a mother who played an important role in the upbringing of Husayn Bayqara and wished her son to grow up independent and strong. When her son was imprisoned, she personally went to Samarkand and spoke courageously with Abu Said in an effort to save his life. Despite the confiscation of her property, she continued to support Husayn Bayqara’s future activities. Therefore, the image of the “mother falcon” in the novel is not limited to one individual; it also continues through the images of mothers who prepare their children for difficult trials and struggle for their future.

Although Gulruhbonu is not a princess, she contributes an important dimension to the representation of women in the novel. She is portrayed as the nurturing mother of Alisher Navoi. Despite the confiscation of her property, the loss of close relatives, and difficult living conditions, she directs her child toward education and enlightenment rather than war and violence. In this respect, the character of Gulruhbonu strengthens the spiritual and educational dimension of the mother image in the novel.

Furthermore, the portrayal of princesses in the novel demonstrates that female characters extend beyond the family sphere and are connected with social and political processes. In the characters of Saroymulk Khonim, Gavharshod Begim, Robiya Sultan Begim, and Feruza Begim, upbringing, advice, political responsibility, and influence on the fate of future generations are closely interconnected. In this sense, the princess is presented not merely as the wife of a ruler or a member of a dynasty but as an active participant in historical processes. Turgun Fayziyev’s work Timurid Princesses, which provides information about the genealogy, status, and historical role of Timurid women, also helps readers understand the historical foundations of some of the characters portrayed in the novel.

The relationship between historical fact and artistic interpretation is also important in the poetics of the novel. The lives of some characters recorded in historical sources are expanded in the novel through psychological states, dialogues, and dramatic situations. For example, the influence of Robiya Sultan Begim on her son’s upbringing, the role of Feruza Begim in the fate of Husayn Bayqara, and Habiba Sultan Begim’s efforts to save her husband connect the personal qualities of women with the development of historical events. Such a method of representation prevents historical figures from remaining merely biographical subjects and contributes to revealing their inner worlds and human relationships.

In this respect, the system of princesses in Ona Lochin Vidosi is notable because it is not constructed according to a single model. In one character, motherhood and education are dominant; in another, loyalty and devotion; while in another, political activity or a tragic fate becomes the defining characteristic. Consequently, through the images of Timurid princesses, the writer presents the diverse dimensions of women’s lives in a particular historical period. Historical information recorded in the National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan also serves as an important source for understanding the subsequent fate of some of these figures. The artistic interpretation in the literary work enriches such historical information with human emotions, family relationships, and psychological conflicts.

Conclusion

The portrayal of princesses in Ona Lochin Vidosi is not based on a single character model. Saroymulk Khonim embodies wisdom and enlightenment; Shodimulk Begim represents a contradictory psychological character; Khonzoda Begim and Husn Nigor Khonim embody the tragic emotional experiences of motherhood; Habiba Sultan Begim represents loyalty and devotion; Robiya Sultan Begim demonstrates political and educational activity; and Feruza Begim embodies courage and maternal devotion. Thus, the writer does not limit the portrayal of Timurid women to external beauty or their status within the royal court but seeks to reveal their inner worlds, moral qualities, and attitudes toward historical processes. In this regard, the depiction of the princesses contributes to creating an active and multifaceted image of women in the artistic structure of the novel.

References

1. Qodirov, P. Ona Lochin Vidosi. Tashkent: Yoshlar Matbuoti, 2023.

2. Fayziyev, T. Timurid Princesses. Tashkent: Abdulla Qodiriy National Heritage Publishing House, 1994.

3. Chuvashova, S. The History of Khoja Ilgor. Tashkent: Fan, 2006.

4. National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan. Tashkent: State Scientific Publishing House of the National Encyclopedia of Uzbekistan, 2000–2005.

Mahfuza Abduqaxor qizi Sharipova was born on September 18, 1993, in Bogdod District, Fergana Region, Uzbekistan. In 2009, she graduated from General Secondary School No. 8 in Bogdod District, Fergana Region. In 2016, she successfully completed her studies in the field of Philology and Language Teaching: Uzbek Language at Fergana State University.

Since 2016, Mahfuza Sharipova has been working as an Uzbek language and literature teacher at General Secondary School No. 11 in Chortoq District, Namangan Region. Throughout her professional career, she has paid particular attention to increasing students’ interest in the Uzbek language and literature by applying modern pedagogical approaches and effective teaching methods. She currently holds the highest qualification category as an Uzbek language and literature teacher.

From 2024 to 2026, she studied for a master’s degree in Uzbek Language and Literature at Namangan State Pedagogical Institute and successfully completed her master’s studies. She is also a holder of an A+ level certificate in her field of specialization.

Mahfuza Sharipova’s academic and professional interests are closely associated with Uzbek language and literature, literary studies, and language teaching methodology. At the same time, she has a particular interest in the in-depth study of the Turkish language. She holds a C1-level certificate in Turkish and currently conducts courses in this language. She is also engaged in translating literary works from Turkish into Uzbek.

Mahfuza Sharipova’s primary goal is to continuously enrich her knowledge and professional experience in her field, deepen her academic research, and become a highly qualified specialist in philology. In the future, she aims to obtain the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Philological Sciences, further develop her academic and pedagogical potential, and share the knowledge and experience she has acquired with the younger generation.

Poetry from J.J. Campbell

a punishment from my father

another dreary morning

where the sun is like

a whore in church

you know she is there

just not to be seen

at this time

one pill for the pain

take another because

who the fuck actually

wants tomorrow

loneliness is the only

disease i never felt

like fighting

it was always deserved

a punishment from

my father

still seeking his

revenge from the

grave

——————————————————

plenty of stories

mist in the air

a bitter old man fades

from the spotlight

plenty of stories about

abuse and neglect and

what everyone else

would deem as failure

but he has no time for

the feelings of others

life can be as meaningless

as you want it to be if you

so desire

try explaining that in a

driven society where

everyone has to get

theirs

grounds for breeding

loneliness

a tribe of one

comfortable in the chaos

of the modern world

break out the watercolors

dance naked in the kitchen

while pretending bob ross

is actually impressed with

the painting

———————————————————-

money swallows everything whole

a broken wish

upon the darkest

star

the last remnants

of hope in this

world

money swallows

everything whole

and now that hell

is upon us

hacked and stolen

remember the simple

world we were promised

if we kept our heads down,

worked hard and believed

in god

i suppose this is

the reward for

such behavior

looks like a rainy

weekend

hope you haven’t

forgot how to

swim

————————————————————-

all the fun

sometimes the dead

will enter my dreams

and remind me of

what could have

been

cancer took care

of most of it

another lonely night

that will be ending

soon with the patient

coming home

hopefully with better

drugs and healing

bones

and i know the

insurance will

only pay for

a home nurse

for three visits

so, now i get

to have all

the fun

———————————————

drunken mischief

rainy days makes all my

scar tissue happy

misery is never enjoying

the festivities

i trace the scars on my hand,

pretend they are tattoos

the one that hurts the most

is in my right foot

one of those great stories

of drunken mischief

except i didn’t think i was

supposed to be the one

being stabbed

both knees are shot, not literally

shoulders and wrists are

going as well

youth is wasted on the

young, as is wisdom

i figure i have a few good

years left in me

i haven’t had a drink of

booze in three months

not sure if i’m done or

just giving my liver some

time to get ready for the

big push to the finish line


J.J. Campbell (1976 – ?) is old enough to know better. He’s been widely published over the years, most recently at The Beatnik Cowboy, Drinkers Only, Mad Swirl, The Rye Whiskey Review and Yellow Mama. His most recent book, to live your dreams, published by Whiskey City Press, is available at Amazon by going here: 

https://a.co/d/01KS9kwh