Only for You
My birth is only for you
You are my heart’s fill
I do all only for you
I dream the sweetness in touch of you
I love you for the time uncountable
You are my glory
You are my sorrow
My loving star lightening my all
The moon and the ocean always in a way
As the day and night
Appears to be light and dream
I am only for you.
Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh
28 August, 2024Md. 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.
I waited for spring with tears, I have been patient with you. How many days off do you need? You enchanted me.
Soft gentle tone, You will be happy if you drink. You alone and alone are to blame, Please answer me, I’m sorry.
Live in peace my dear Knocking your heart out. This is very interesting Don’t find me near you.
The thinnest thread is pulled tight, And did it crash? An ax under your feet You hit it yourself. ok I’ll go
You are the king of my heart Excuse me, I’ll go by myself now…
HAPPINESS
Heal my sick heart Follow your path. my lover is alive A witness is not necessary,
My creation is correct.
I hope you are the only one I don’t look at others. Even in the vortex of sad dreams I swim, I walk, I don’t get tired.
My heart sighed, oh Why the question, why do you ask? Bathing in the mirror Why wrap wires?
Don’t hold flowers, don’t wear masks, Do not build a princess throne. Darling, let me tell you this… Your presence is HAPPINESS for me!
Tuliyeva Sarvinoz. She was born on November 8, 1999 in the Beruni district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
She graduated from Alisher Navoi Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature (2023). She’s the winner of the state award named after Zulfia (2019) and a teacher of native language and literature at Shaikhontohur District Vocational School, Tashkent. She is the author of the poetry books “Song of Peace”, “I am a Girl of Truth”, and “Morning Poem”.
Resilient Rising
In planning where present and future mix,
Sustainable aspirations with tomorrow’s fix.
We crave for harmony by nature’s grace,
May progress prevail in every place!
From lofty woods to oceans wide,
Sustainable goals will be our guide.
Development must thrive keeping in mind,
A sustainable sacred path we need to find.
Renewable energies like sunbeam gleams,
We can cherish with sustainable dreams.
Let innovation flourish, let prudence guide,
For coming generations yet to stride.
In the symphony of civilization, let’s play our part,
In sustainable development, a majestic art.
Communities prosper through restored balance,
Man and nature persist with great reverence.
Eco-conscious minds allow innovative buds to bloom,
Treasures that we cherish for years are sustainable tombs.
Every intricate steps we make in this grand ballet,
Enables us removing darkness and arriving to a golden day.
Our beacon of hope is ‘sustainable development.’
Bright future guided by this brilliant advent.
All the resources we have, are pretty scarce.
Green Energies are the tools, solution we searce.
In the core of progress, a whispered creed,
“Sustainable development, our urgent need.”
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turn down the lights
these are the nights
i should drink myself
to death
that's the problem with
starting out drinking
at a young age
it takes so damn much
anymore to even get
close to the end
it ain't worth it
play some music
turn down the lights
remember the last one
that ever wanted to
kiss you
if she only had a way
to get out of that shitty
marriage
who knows
soon the scotch will
switch to gin
that is what the inner
child likes to call
torture
iron sharpens iron
the shotgun in the
corner has dust on it
i suppose that says
more than even i
believe it does
----------------------------------------------------------
all hope is lost
there is a darkness around me
some days
a pain that lingers in the background
like an awkward kid at the prom
but as that pain lingers
especially as i have grown
older
every fucking twist and turn
the poems start to be written
in blood
all hope is lost in a fucking
sewer miles away
no one ever loved me and
i am painfully aware of it
on most days, i don't even
bother to fight off the demons
anymore
what's the point
death has been on my mind
for over forty fucking years
now
longer than some of my friends
ever lived
will it be a mirror or a spoon
laughing at the moon or loading
the bullets into a homemade gun
i still hide the knives in the bushes
just for old times' sake
last time anyone actually cared
---------------------------------------------------------
not your blood
trembling hands
covered in blood
not your blood
love rushes in
when reality
fades away
a final breath
amid chaos
and mayhem
you always knew
he wanted death
to be one hell of
a story to tell
-------------------------------------------------------------
eyes that would haunt a ghost
broken neon scattered
across the sky in another
one of my broken dreams
she always has brown hair
brown skin, a great ass
and eyes that would haunt
a ghost
somehow, she is in love
with me, an overweight
poet with a wicked tongue
if you know what i mean
hand in hand in the rain
laughing at nothing at all
her kisses are like a lovers
lament
often, she will try to kill
me in these dreams
on a rare night, we make
love in a parking lot
outside of some shitty
bar
i had a friend ask me
if i ever was in love
i told her your guess
is as good as mine
-------------------------------------------------------
welcome to love with a poet
she tasted like cherry cream soda
curves in all the right places
how much is this going to cost me
well, eventually your life
she showed her hand, hoping
for a ring
i was fresh out of ideas and excuses
to say no
i put a rubber band on her ring finger
she laughed
i said welcome to love with a poet
we might have lasted another month
or so
eventually, the laughs were glasses
being thrown against walls
fists into bricks
you know
the typical white trash utopia break
up shit on a saturday night in the sticks
i still think of her
i still have the scars
J.J. Campbell (1976 - ?) is slowly dying in the suburbs, realizing that the story only gets sadder from here. He's been widely published over the years, most recently at Mad Swirl, Horror Sleaze Trash, The Beatnik Cowboy, The Rye Whiskey Review and Disturb the Universe Magazine. His most recent chapbook, Altered States of The Unflinching Souls, with Casey Renee Kiser, was published in August. You can find him most days on his mildly entertaining blog, evil delights. (https://evildelights.blogspot.com)
You want me to forget you?
Easy
Force my eyes to look at things
without seeing the sparkle of your smile
Wipe from my hair the tenderness of your touch
Remove the warmth of your hugs from my cold arms
Teach your name not to slip from my tongue when I speak to someone else
Yes,
Find another beat for my heart
And I will disappear like a snowflake when it touches warm ground
If I didn’t love you, would I survive?
Regardless of the fact that I will die like everything on this Earth
And my body will become fertilizer for the trees
Or
Some of it will stick in the tires of cars
Or
Maybe hungry birds will crave
pieces of meat and attack my body with their beaks
I will become abandoned rubble
Brooms will kick me from one garbage can to another
I say:
Despite all the bad thoughts that may grow in my head
If I didn’t love you, would I survive?
Faleeha Hassan is a poet, teacher, editor, writer, and playwright born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1967, who now lives in the United States. Faleeha was the first woman to write poetry for children in Iraq. She received her master's degree in Arabic literature, and has now published 26 books, her poems have been translated into English, Turkmen, Bosnian, Indian, French, Italian, German, Kurdish, Spain, Korean, Greek, Serbia, Albanian, Pakistani, Romanian, Malayalam, Chinese, ODIA, Nepali and Macedonian language. She is a Pulitzer Prize Nominee for 2018, and a Pushcart Prize Nominee for 2019. She's a member of the International Writers and Artists Association. Winner of the Women of Excellence Inspiration award from SJ magazine 2020, and the Winner of the Grand Jury Award (the Sahitto International Award for Literature 2021). She served on the Women of Excellence selection committees for 2023, was a winner of a Women In The Arts award in 2023 and a Member of Who's Who in America 2023. She's on the Sahitto Award's judging panel for 2023 and a cultural ambassador between Iraq and the US.
I'm gonna be happy.
One day a flower will open for me,
The way will always be open to me.
It's always a fun day
I will be happy, believe me.
Spring will surely come for me,
Trees bloom early in the morning.
You can also have lunch at a glance at the flowers
I will be happy, believe me.
A rose will soon grow for me Honey is really the happiest Summer is a big work for me I will be happy, believe me.
Ilhomova Mohichehra 7th grade student of Zarafshan city, Navoi region, school No. 9.
Echoes of Eternity: A Comparative Study of Greek and Roman Mythology
Parichita Saha
B.A.(H), B.Ed student, Kolkata Teacher’s Training College, Panpur,
Kankinara-743126
Keywords: Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Gods and Goddesses, Epic Narratives, Cultural Exchange, Influence on Western Culture.
Abstract:
Greek and Roman mythologies serve as cornerstones of Western thought, art, and culture. Greek myths are chronicled in works like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, contrast with Roman myths centred around Romulus and Remus and immortalised in Virgil’s Aeneid. Both mythologies feature gods and goddesses embodying human attributes, with Greek deities often personifying traits and Roman gods representing societal roles. Epic poems like the Iliad and the Aeneid reflect the intricate cultural exchange between these civilizations. This interchange extends to language, art, and philosophy, highlighting the profound interconnectedness and enduring legacy of Greek and Roman cultures on Western civilization.
Introduction:
Myths are not mere stories; they are the bedrock of civilizations, offering insight into human condition and the cosmos. Both Greek and Roman mythologies have profoundly influenced Western thought, art and culture. Greek mythology, rooted in a rich oral tradition, was eventually chronicled in texts like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and Hesiod’s Theogony. Conversely, Roman mythology centres around the birth of Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome and is immortalised in Virgil’s epic, The Aeneid. Thus, Greek and Roman mythology stand as two pillars of ancient storytelling, shaping beliefs, values and cultural identities of their respective civilization. Despite originating from distinct societies, separated by time and geography, the parallels between these mythologies are striking. From their gods and goddesses to epic narrative of heroism and tragedy, Greek and Roman mythology share a profound interconnectedness that reflects the intricate relation between these ancient civilizations.
Pantheon of God and Goddesses:
As the central figures of mythology, the ancient Greek and Roman gods and goddesses embodied an array of human attributes, from fortitude to folly. They were worshipped in temples and exalted in myths recounted by people living ordinary lives. When Rome conquered Greece in the 2nd century B.C.E, many Greek deities were absorbed into the Roman pantheon, often under new names but retaining similar roles and characteristics.
For instance, Jupiter, the Roman sky-god overseeing all aspects of life, originated from the Greek god Zeus, ruler of Mount Olympus and god of thunder and lightning, as well as law and order. Juno, Jupiter’s wife and sister mirrored the Greek goddess and Hera by closely overseeing women and all aspects of their lives. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, known of her strategic prowess and symbolised by the owl, was transformed into Minerva, who retained these attributes. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, horses and earthquakes, wielding a trident, became Neptune in Roman mythology, depicted similarly with a trident chariot drawn by sea creatures. Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility, who presided over the harvest, was represented in Roman mythology by Ceres, also depicted with symbols of agriculture like barley and wheat. Demeter also presided over the fertility of the earth and the natural cycle of life and death.
Greek gods were often personifications of human personality traits and emotion, such as love, hate, honour and dignity. Their myths were shaped by these traits, making them relatable to human experiences. In contrast, Roman gods were more abstract, often embodying objects or actions that were represented in a way that emphasised their roles within Roman society and state religion.
This direct comparison highlights the deep interconnectedness yet distinct adaptations between Greek and Roman deities, showcasing how Rome Incorporated and reinterpreted Greek mythology to suit their cultural societal contexts.
Epic Narrative:
The stories of these gods and goddesses, along with mortal heroes, came to life in the form of epic poems. Epic, derived from the Greek word ‘Epos’, meaning word or speech. An epic is a long poem, usually composed of lines with six rhythmic measures. Epic poems of Greece throughout antiquity, the most prestigious literary form, the apex of the hierarchy of genres. Through it they articulated their conceptions of war, empire, mortality, religion, gender, the natural order, psychology and cultural identity. Homer, the legendary author of both the Iliad and the Odyssey, is often credited with pioneering this literary form. When Rome began translating Greek works in the 200s B.C., they adopted the epic tradition, infusing it with their own historical narratives. The Greek epics, such the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer and Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes, were mythological epics, inspired by Greece’s legendary past. While Roman epics were modelled on these Greek epics, Roman epics also included stories from recent history. Ancient Roman and Greek literature, while sharing some similarities due to the Roman culture being heavily influenced by Greek culture, also have distinct differences. Greek literature often focused on mythology, philosophy, and the human experience. Roman literature, on the other hand, often emphasised practicality, politics, and historical narratives. Greek literature is known for its development of literary forms such as epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, and lyric poetry but Roman literature, while also including epic poetry (e.g., Virgil’s Aeneid) and drama, is particularly noted for its development of the genre of satire. Thus, epic poetry became a bridge connecting Greek philosophical musing and Roman practically, illustrating the cultural dialogue between these great civilizations.
Cultural Exchange and Adaptation:
This cultural dialogue extended beyond literature and into every facet of life as the Romans absorbed and adapted Greek culture. The Greek civilization, flourishing much earlier than the Roman, laid the groundwork for many of the art, philosophy and architectural advancements that the Romans later embraced. In the Mycenaean era (1500 to 1100 B.C.) the Macedonian Wars (roughly 214 to 168 BCE) resulted in the Roman Empire conquering and absorbing Greece. Greek culture, however, superseded Roman culture. Romans were enthralled by Greek culture and highly influenced by it, especially in areas of art and philosophy. Although Greek culture heavily influenced Roman culture, especially in art. These two civilizations, though distinct in their political structures and societal norms, were deeply intertwined through cultural exchanges that occurred over centuries. This cultural exchange helped the Romans advance in their community to become one of the greatest empires of that time. One of the most significant areas of cultural exchange was language . The Romans adopted the Greek alphabet and many Greek words into their language, resulting in a significant linguistic influence. We know the Romans for their beautiful art, their outstanding architecture. Roman fascination with Greek culture is clearly evident in many Roman works of art, which appropriate heavily from Greek artistic canon. Many surviving statues of Greek origin in museums today are actually Roman copies of the Greek original. Greek statues were typically made of bronze, which, in later centuries, were typically made of bronze, which, in later centuries, were often melted down to make weapons or destroyed by other cultures who saw them as pagan. Marble Roman statues, on the other hand, have mostly survived. Some Roman statues are unique in design, but many others are exact or partial copies of Greek statues. The influence of Greek art also can be seen in Roman temples, theatres, and public buildings, with iconic features such as the use of columns, pediments. As well as art, Greek ideas of philosophy spread to Rome, where they grew and developed as they became popular with the people. For example, stoicism originated in Greece, but became immensely popular and was further developed in Rome. Stoicism is an originally Greek philosophical system founded by Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE in Cyprus; it was introduced to Rome in the second century BCE where it quickly became a popular philosophy among a wide variety of people.
Greek philosophy had a profound impact on Roman intellectual thought. Roman elites were educated in Greek philosophy with Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Neoplatonism gaining popularity among the Roman intelligentsia. Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle were studied and revered in Roman intellectual circles, influencing Roman ethical, metaphysical, and political thought. The enduring legacy of Greek culture in Roman civilization speaks to the richness and complexity of the ancient Mediterranean world, where cultural interchange played a pivotal role in shaping the course of history. Since literature is known to reflect the overview of the socio-economic structure of an era, chronological relevance is evident even in two mostly similar mythological literary patterns. Greek mythology observed more intricate philosophical thinking in character building, whereas Roman mythology celebrated materialistic practicality and historical narratives.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Greek and Roman mythologies have numerous similarities that show their intertwined cultural and religious histories. Both myths feature a pantheon of gods who rule over various aspects of nature and people’s lives, sometimes with human weaknesses and emotions. The Romans inherited several gods of the Greeks, but were given different names and occasionally modified features as a sign of respect for Greek culture and a desire to take in their strengths. Myths from both traditions serve as foundational stories that explain natural phenomena, human behaviour, and social customs, highlighting the values and beliefs of their respective societies. Furthermore, these mythologies have had an indelible impact on Western literature, art, philosophy which has left an indelible mark in hearts ever since. Studying what they share among them contributes much not only to the better understanding of ancient civilizations but also helps us see how humans seek to interpret the world through narrative discourse. The legacy of shared heritage of Greek and Roman culture endures, a testament to the power of myth to shape and inspire, resonating in our hearts and minds ever since.
References:
Graf, F. (1993). Greek Mythology: An Introduction. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Hard, R. (2004). The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose’s “Handbook of Greek Mythology”. Routledge.
Leeming, D. A. (2005). The Oxford Companion to World Mythology. Oxford University Press.
Wiseman, T. P. (2004). The Myths of Rome. University of Exeter Press.
