DELICATE SOULS

There are tired and delicate souls

that break just like pieces of glass,

tremble like autumn leaves, even

from a single, spontaneous word.

The wind takes and throws them

on the ground, under the tempest;

they get wet and trampled down

in an anonymous and lonely road.

There, you will find even my soul.

WHO WILL PROTECT YOU?

Who will protect you from anxieties

when I am no longer in this universe,

who’ll caress your beautiful forehead

saying, “Let’s sleep, for it is late”?

Who will whisper words of comfort,

the ones that flow just like a stream,

who will give you a caress, a smile,

waking up your anima and fantasy?

Who will accompany you in a dream,

speak to you and touch you sweetly,

who will kiss you, who will love you

with passion when I won’t be here?

THE FIRES

It is nothing else, only a bit of nostalgia

in this foggy, cold and anonymous city,

where all the days are the same, where

a pure and a limpid soul is broken.

It is nothing else, just a memory that this

winter brought me from afar—the image

of an old stove and our frozen hands on it.

My dear mother blew on a fire that didn’t

light at all. Sparks were flying in the room

like a thousand shining stars.

Her breath lit the embers and, in the soul,

the fire of love and affection. Now that

she is not here anymore, all the fires are

extinguished. Maybe forever.

IRMA KURTI is an Albanian poet, writer, lyricist, journalist, and translator. She is a naturalized Italian and lives in Bergamo, Italy. In 2020, she became the honorary president of WikiPoesia, the encyclopedia of poetry. Irma Kurti is a member of the jury for several literary competitions in Italy and also a translator for the Ithaca Foundation in Spain. Irma Kurti has published more than 100 works, including books of poetry, fiction and translations. Her books have been translated and published in 21 countries.

STONE SPIRITS

We Jews place stones on our ancestors graves

Permanence, unlike the breath

I make a vow to be with you each day

To create something with you, to hear your voice.

The heart shaped stones have been collected, near the waterfalls of the Blue Ridge

Each one reminds me of the love that I have to share 

Each stone has a home in my imagination

As I brush the strokes across the surface, a soft and subtle voice enters

I am with you, we share this time and space

I will paint each name, carefully, intentionally

I will ask each of you what you see

I will gather you all together again, as before, in my garden of life.

Salt Beef Sandwich

He’s having a glorious

Salt beef sandwich

For lunch 

And thinking that probably

No one travels to London

For the English food

But that he’s certainly

Going to enjoy some of it

While he’s here.

Taylor Dibbert is a poet in Washington, DC. He’s author of, most recently, “Takoma.”

RESEARCH AND YOUTH: MODERN APPROACHES AND PROMISING DIRECTIONS

Maftuna Rustamova

Republic of Uzbekistan, Bukhara region

Abstract:

This article analyzes the role of young people in scientific activity in modern society, its problems and solutions, as well as innovative approaches to the development of science. Practical proposals are made to increase interest in science among young people, motivate them, and realize their scientific potential.

Keywords:

Young scientists, scientific research, innovation, education, modern technologies, progress, encouragement.

Login:

The 21st century is the century of information, technology and science. The future of every society depends, first of all, on the knowledge, thinking and scientific potential of the younger generation. One of the priorities of the state policy towards youth in the Republic of Uzbekistan is to involve them in scientific activities and support young scientists.

Main part:

1. The need to increase young people’s interest in science

Today, scientific progress around the world is developing at an unprecedented pace. However, most young people are not pursuing scientific activities, but rather pursuing practical, profitable fields. This is especially noticeable in the technical and natural sciences.

The following are being implemented in Uzbekistan to address this problem:

The activities of the Youth Academy and Councils of Young Scientists are being strengthened;

The number of scientific competitions and grants is increasing;

International conferences and internships are being organized.

2. Science and innovation: an integrated approach

Today’s youth are not only creating theoretical knowledge, but also creating practical results through innovative, startup projects. For example, scientific developments in the fields of IT, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and ecology are not only generating scientific articles, but also bringing economic benefits.

The following are important:

Developing STEM education;

Increasing digital literacy;

Promoting scientific thinking among young people.

3. Obstacles to scientific activity and their elimination

The main obstacles faced by young people in their scientific research are:

Lack of sufficient academic mentors;

Poor scientific article writing skills;

Limited financial resources.

Suggestions:

Establishing a “Youth Science Club” at each university;

Free seminars on writing scientific articles;

Organizing a “Young Scientists Forum” at least once a year.

4. The future of science is in the hands of young people

Today’s young generation is growing up with the internet, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. For them, science is not just about the laboratory, but also about knowledge exchange on the global network, online courses, and international cooperation.

For example, access to platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and Scopus is helping to unlock the scientific potential of young people.

Conclusion:

Arousing young people’s interest in science is the task not only of the state, but also of every teacher, scientific supervisor, and parent. Scientific progress begins with young people and is strengthened through their research. The bright future of our country is certainly in the hands of knowledgeable and inquisitive young people.

References:

Resolutions and decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ( www.lex.uz )

UNESCO Youth and Science Global Report, 2023

Google Scholar article database

“Youth and Scientific Research” – National University of Uzbekistan Publication, 2024

https://scholar.google.com

Maftuna Rustamova, Bukhara region, Jondor district, Secondary school number 30, 9th grade student

8th of MARCH

(Women’s day celebration)

Tastes of falsehood

the smell of these flowers

offered by the hands

that so many times

left marks on my body

as many as the clouds in the sky

on a winter day

nor do I recognise

this smile of yours

marked by wrinkles

of a man who faces life

dragging with him

heavy the burden of impiety

Printed in my mind

your evil gaze

say when

you blame me 

for things never said or

things never done

pouring over me

your failures your defeats

I tell my pain

to the wind

the will to go

stifled inside me 

the cold you brought into my heart

chilly like the wind of Buran

the darkness in my soul

like the arctic nights

and ripped you have my hope 

and all my dreams

Of me

of the woman of yore

just a portrait remains

hanging on a wall

in this faded-walled house

where I wander as in a limbo

BECAUSE I AM LOVE

I wish I could sing
to cheer your mornings up
be a painter 
to portray your face
write poems to tell 
of my love for you
be joyful and bubbly
to colour of pink
your gloomy hours

Be lovely and
you proud of me

or clay to shape
according to your desires

And I could be fond of the sea
not to fear the storms
if you were a sailor
and devotedly wait
your coming back
from distant lands
because I am Love

A Pair of Feet “Caring” for a Lawn

There exists a strange group of beings,

Whose brains are said to have been blown away by the wind,

Whose souls are said to have been eroded by the rain.

They have only a pair of eyes,

A pair of feet,

And a mouth that claims a “free spirit”.

They love stepping onto the lawn,

Then stare at each other,

And keep using their mouths to accuse the sky—

“Follow the sound of my voice and look at me,

I’m the one most deserving to exist.”

Take one of them, for example:

It saw a pair of feet among the others,

Trample a blossom,

And its mouth instantly cried out:

“The flower is innocent,

The flower is pitiful,

Let’s speak up for the flower!”

Then it kept wandering,

Saw another pair of feet crush a foxtail grass,

And its mouth again cried out:

“The foxtail grass is innocent,

The foxtail grass is pitiful,

Let’s speak up for the foxtail grass!”

A large tree reminded it:

“Hold on—before you care about the foxtail grass,

That flower hasn’t been helped back up yet.”

Its mouth immediately cried out:

“The flower’s issue is in the past,

The foxtail grass is today’s breaking news,

Stop moral coercion,

Be like me—call for truth, goodness, and beauty…”

The tree continued:

“It seems like your kind says things like this every day.”

Its mouth instantly cried out:

“I don’t know,

I didn’t hear it,

I am what I am,

And I love peace…”

The tree covered its face:

“Then what about the grass you yourself trampled in the lawn?”

Its mouth instantly cried out:

“I’m only ‘caring’ for the lawn with my feet,

I never harm,

The fallen grass is a setup, a malicious frame-up…”

The tree said:

“I’ve had enough.

Each of them paces the lawn every day,

Blaming each other, bragging about themselves,

All believing their behavior is original…

I’d rather rot at the roots,

Than stay here any longer…”

The Role of Women in Society

A woman is an embodiment of endless courage, a symbol of beauty, and the flower of society. Though she may carry the burdens of the world behind her smile and feel hunger herself, she strives to show fullness for the sake of her children. She is a creation perfectly and beautifully made, capable of subduing sultans and elevating servants to the status of kings. When we hear the word “woman,” an image of a graceful figure full of unique qualities and strength immediately comes to mind.

Now I want to ask: *What is a courageous woman? What kind of image does the phrase “courageous woman” evoke in your mind?* I approached these questions and the role of women in society by portraying them through the figure of one woman.

Imagine a fragile girl deprived of her father’s love since birth, forced to live away from her siblings, and separated from her mother during the sweetest moments of her life under various oppressions. Although she may seem mature outwardly, she remains a delicate soul deprived of parental affection. Can you imagine how deeply painful such a fate is? Such hardships are trials of destiny.

The most important thing is that in such moments, a person must remain patient and never give up. She was always grateful even in the hardest times, believing that these were trials sent by God and that their rewards would be great.

For example, despite the disapproval of her close ones, she did not surrender and, while appearing to be going to work every day, she took entrance exams for the university she desired. To everyone’s surprise, she was admitted to a state-funded pedagogy program in Physics and Informatics!

Here, I want to highlight the insightful words of Chingiz Aytmatov, who said: “When I speak of an ideal woman, I always put intellectuality first. Mental capacity, of course, too. The ideal is formed gradually, based on long and numerous observations.”

Indeed, to call someone ideal, we must consider that she has been shaped and refined through life’s continuous challenges. However, fate did not always grant her peaceful days. After marriage, she faced separation from her siblings and had to move to a distant region. She endured numerous hardships and even escaped death several times.

Not only did she lose her loved ones, but constant separation from her fragile infants exhausted her immensely. Yet, these hardships strengthened her resilience and motivated her to strive to rise from the boiling cauldron of cruelty. It is often said that every difficulty carries some good within it.

By God’s will, she overcame all obstacles and now feels His boundless mercy, raising her two children with love and instilling good values in them. For 30 years, she has been working in her field, contributing greatly to the development of society and setting a worthy example.

This woman is my jewel, my paradise — my mother. For me, she is the most unique and courageous woman, the ideal human being, and no words can fully express her beauty. She is my light — my mother.

Not only for me but for all humanity, a mother is the most revered figure. We all understand well the invaluable role of mothers in our lives, and through my mother’s life journey, I have realized how powerful mothers truly are.With this short story, I want to say that women are not as weak as some may think. On the contrary, they are strong and perfect individuals capable of achieving every dream they set their minds to and even more. Therefore, every woman holds an invaluable place in society.

I can say this through the example of my mother, Baymuratova Salomat, who, with her patience and courage, overcame all obstacles in her life and reached great heights.

As E. Senankur pointed out: *“If our hearts are pure, the word ‘woman’ becomes a symbol of grandeur for us.”*

By the way, the importance of respecting women has been emphasized by Lope De Vega, who said that *“Respecting a woman is a duty that every sincere person should observe from birth.”* Amir Temur also highlighted this by saying, *“I tried to treat women as kindly as possible.”*

Indeed, women are the backbone of a nation. Every woman, through the upbringing she gives to her children, either lays the foundation for a bright future country or ruins its promising prospects.

Because a woman’s nature is strong, she is capable of performing both noble deeds and, unfortunately, crafty acts. Therefore, the place of women in our society is invaluable.

The Qur’an also recognizes how honorable and precious women are. No matter how much we cherish and respect them, it will never be enough.

After all, Paradise lies under the feet of mothers.

For this reason, I want to express my deepest respect and love to all women, to the unique mothers, and to my own sun-like mother, the source of kindness and warmth in my heart.

My teachers Shokhida Yusupova, Laylo Bakhtiyorova, Sarvinoz Xasanovna, Asrorova Gavhar, Raxmonqulova Saida, and Yaxshiboyeva Yulduz, as well as my hardworking sister Feruza Turdiboyeva, the winner of the “Woman of the Year 2021” contest, all hold invaluable places in my life and in my journey to become a useful member of society.

Moreover, thanks to the initiatives of our country’s leadership, the high attention paid to women is continuously increasing our role in society’s governance, and all the created opportunities are yielding positive results.

Every woman’s awareness of her rights and finding a worthy place in society is a key step towards the rise and progress of every nation.

Bibixanifa Jumanazarova Uktam’s daughter was born on May 15, 2007, in Zomin district, Jizzakh region. She is the holder of multiple international certificates. Additionally, she holds a B2 level CEFR certificate in English and a B+ level national certificate in Uzbek language. Due to her excellent academic achievements, she graduated from school with a gold medal.

She is the author of The Diamond Pages anthology and has written numerous scientific and journalistic articles.