The forest closes like a book, each tree a story I cannot read. The path dissolves into moss, soft and secretive underfoot, while shadows stretch long fingers to tangle my thoughts.
The trees do not ask, nor the rivers accuse; they only carry me forward, their silence a solace as I learn to wander, to trust the song of the unmarked trail.
Unsettled
My reflection blinks one heartbeat late,
Caught in the death dream.
It lifts a hand-
Not mine-
Fingers dripping, spelling my name backwards
On the inside of my vision.
Leaning toward the glass that leans back hungrily,
I try to step away; the mirror whispers:
You are the echo I invited
To keep from being alone.
Leaving the Modern World
I am learning to sit in silence,
To find the divine in the ordinary:
The creak of a chair,
tick of the clock,
The rhythm of my own heartbeat.
The modern world will not stop me;
I will stop for myself.
Carl Scharwath has appeared globally with 210+ publications selecting his writing or art. Carl has published five poetry books and four photography books. He was nominated with four The Best of the Net Awards (2022-25) and two different 2023 Pushcart Nominations for poetry and a short story.
actualizing the 'evening' answer
to The Riddle of the Sphinx
*
what I heard was not what was being said
*
he'd spit in his own Pepsi if you asked for a sip
*
aisle seat for the sorrowful ballet
*
not in the script, the gull that flew past the bay window
*
my incessant blathering wore out
her hammer, anvil and that other bone
I can never remember
*
limping toward unknown archipelagos
with a notebook and two childhood prayers
*
brown blood in the hambone
and the first-class relic
*
words everywhere, the oceanic fears of the illiterate
*
maybe Gutei just needed a minute to think
*
he's where it widens and slows with Sarah Vaughan
*
it's hard to be alone in the hereafter
A film project on film history legend Billy Wilder
Victoria Wilder, his daughter, was awarded the “Courage for Freedom Award”
I met Billy Wilder with Gloria Swanson in Hollywood on my birthday, January 24, 1974.
I told him that I had postponed my first meeting in Rome with Federico Fellini, scheduled for the same day.
Billy Wilder observed me carefully, as if his eyes were a camera: he wanted to understand my true essence, revealing an urgency, since, perhaps, he wanted to be the first great director to discover me, before my meeting with Fellini.
Wilder had filmed, only two years earlier, “Avanti!” with Jack Lemmon, his first film in Italy, in Ischia and Sorrento, and since I was Italian by birth, the conversation shifted to this film, but without Wilder giving up on his intention to decode my essence, with his increasingly “investigative” gaze.
Although very young, I had a fairly precise idea of what elements of my personality interested Wilder and which later interested Fellini.
In this scenario, Gloria Swanson had limited herself to mentioning Marlene Dietrich, who had introduced us.
We were at Paramount Pictures, and can you imagine that nothing happened related to the famous scene in “Sunset Boulevard” in which everyone recognizes “Norma Desmond,” the “forgotten” silent film diva played by Swanson in Wilder’s film?
Something quite similar to that scene happened, due to Swanson’s long absence from Paramount, including that of Wilder, whose last film with Paramount Pictures had been “Sabrina” with Bogart, Hepburn and Holden, ending a 12-year business relationship between him and the company.
Some people waved at Wilder and Swanson from a distance, and while Swanson reacted almost “without reacting,” Wilder responded to the greetings, without taking his eyes off me, to explore my slightest reaction.
And I couldn’t help but utter this sentence: “I’ll tell Fellini about what’s happening here now, but after we’ve known each other for a while.”
Wilder understood the “chess move” I had made and extended his hand towards mine, appreciating the ambiguous “subtlety” of my statement.
Swanson, expected this reaction from Wilder, observed everything with detachment and a certain irony.
A few days ago, Victoria Wilder, Wilder’s daughter, pointed out a very important detail about her father: she told me that her father always appreciated being recognized and greeted, even though this was inevitable due to his enormous fame.
In short, this aspect of fame never bothered him.
The scene in the Paramount Studio from his film “Sunset Boulevard” was always within him, and Wilder deliberately made that scene immortal, since, I understood, it embodied himself and the essence of cinema.
During the truly incessant greetings from the Paramount staff, being Italian, I was offered a “cappuccino,” and Wilder, in response to what I had said earlier, told me: “Federico, Fellini will immediately adore you if you ask him for a ‘cappuccino ‘ because you’ve created a scene that, if I had seen it, I would have included in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ . Yes, from how you picked up the cup, to when you brought it to your mouth to sip the ‘cappuccino’.”
Obviously, we all laughed.
Beneath that sentence, there was something much broader, which I will include in the film about him. Yes, I am proposing to make a film about Wilder, since I am building a mosaic with the pieces of memories I have of him, added to what Victoria Wilder told me about her father a few days ago, on my birthday.
Victoria Wilder , introduced to me by Lady Silvia Gardin , was delighted to receive the “Courage for Freedom” award from my hands, created by Francesco Garibaldi, a descendant of the hero Garibaldi, which commends Mrs. Victoria, a great collage artist, for having had the tenacity and perseverance to collect rare and precious testimonies about her father, the only one who had the courage to reveal the true identity of the Olympus of fame: Hollywood.
But there is very important news that has just recently emerged: after the death of actor Gianfranco Barra, part of the cast of Wilder’s film “Avanti,” the only Wilder film shot in Italy, the entire film archive was given by Barra’s heirs to Graziano Marraffa, president of the Italian historical film archive.
This archive contributes to the rediscovery of the celebrated director and gives more urgency to my initiative to make a film about him, which, by depicting Hollywood, clearly illustrates the dangers faced by anyone who falls victim to the most popular obsession of our times: fame.
Engaged here means the engagement of the mind with the mind. In order to keep the engagement of the mind with the mind intact, it is important to be happy with your mind. Despondency is despair, grief, heartbreak.
In the case of engagement, if the mind’s desire is fulfilled, if the mind does not get hurt, sorrow, or suffering, the mind is right. The attention is the same remains A close connection of mind with mind keeps the focus fixed. Enthusiasm increases in the mind, it remains cheerful. Therefore, there is no need to grieve, nor to suffer. You have to keep going, seeing that the cut does not open in the mind and feet. No one can be given a place to occupy the mind. You have to move forward in connection with your own existence. Therefore, the power of the mind is very important. Flowers should be kept in care. The juice will be in the mind, let the mind move like that. Mind connection provides the juice to move forward in life.
Understanding of mind and spirit with mind. Persistence, hope, desire, self-strength, mental strength move the mind forward. From connected thoughts, one has to increase concentration and move forward in life. Sparkling, shining light keeps life in full flow. All is the result of mind freshness. Intelligence and mental connection with the mind, kinship of one’s own soul with one’s own soul can keep oneself in order, must reach the right goal.
Despondency means to be broken, hopeless. The mind is burdened with pain – it increases the sickness of the mind. The mind breaks down, becomes useless. The distance between the mind and the mind increases. The connection between the mind is lost. There will be both engagement of the mind and disorientation in life. But if you give importance or keep alive the depression Mind will be hurt, mind power and self-power will be lost. Which is very bad for everyone. Even if you are depressed, you should do what you need to do. You should see your dreams.
Symptoms of depression or anxiety:
1. First understand yourself – I have suffered, I am suffering. 2. Loss of enthusiasm for work or creative work. 3. No way forward. Signs of getting out of depression: 1. To identify the pain of the mind, find out the cause. 2. To find a way to shake off or erase the pain of the mind. 3. Staying away from those people who have caused grief. 4.Walk and talk in such a way that no one gets hurt. 5. Talking and discussing the matter with a close person if necessary. 6. Dancing-reciting-pictures-art- listening to music, creative work including yoga and joining social service work.
7. Persistence, strength, patience and courage to make new plans and move forward, to overcome adversity. 8. Mental preparation is always necessary. I will be fine. I will be strong in any situation, my actions I will take it forward. 9. I will not let injustice happen to me. I have to protest for injustice. Sometimes I have to fight silently. 10. Even if you are disappointed, you have to give yourself hope. Must go to work. 11. Stay away from negative thoughts and activities. 12. It is one’s duty and duty to mend one’s broken heart. 13. Have confidence and trust in yourself.
Both good and bad are in our hands there is self-view, self-action, consideration, self-perception, Dreaming, thinking, choosing direction, staying positive is all is in good standing.
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.
To build our house, through foreign lands to roam.
When thoughts of family fill his mind,
Longing grips his heart, so cruel, unkind.
Like pearls, his tears fall from his eyes,
Adorning sorrow no one ever spies.
“Daddy, when will you return?” they pray,
His children wait and hope each day.
Too late they learn his worth so true,
Their hearts now ache with deep regret anew.
Your sweetest tea has lost its taste,
Your earned-up money feels like waste.
This splendid house, so rich, so grand,
Without a father—no builder’s hand.
Gulsevar Mirzamahmudova was born on May 12, 2009, in Eskiarab village, Oltiariq District of Fergana Region. She is currently an 11th-grade student of Class 11B at General Secondary School No. 23. She is a holder of the National Certificate in Uzbek Language and Literature.
My father is the most precious person in my life, a man whose value is as high as the sky itself. He is such a father that if I asked him for a single star from the sky, he would prepare the moon for me instead. Until this very age, he has always been my support — encouraging my education in every possible way, working tirelessly day and night for my sake. He has always told me, “My daughter, I have great hopes for you,” and has stood by my side, shoulder to shoulder, in every step I take. My father is my greatest pillar of strength, and when I try to describe him, tears come to my eyes.
Mashrabxoʻjayeva Feruzaxon was born on March 7, 2005, in Chimyon village, Fergana District, Fergana Region. She is currently a second-year student at Fergana State University.
At twilight, someone wipes the sweat from my forehead,
Someone sings the Song of Freedom in Saat Square,
Someone, in intensive care, is still breathing,
There is silence at the front…
Silence…
*
Per quale guerra i miei capelli indossano il sudario bianco?
Vivono ancora i soldati che gridano l’amore?!
C’è silenzio al fronte.
Mi dolgono i denti che innalzano la bandiera bianca,
Dà dolore la Patria,
Piange l’Uomo.
Le linee che solcano la mia fronte
sono i fili spinati di quale paese?
Separano l’amore dalla separazione,
Separano la speranza dalla morte,
Separano i giorni,
Separano le notti…
Nel crepuscolo qualcuno asciuga il sudore dalla mia fronte,
Qualcuno canta il Canto della Libertà in Piazza Saat,
Qualcuno, in rianimazione, respira ancora,
C’è silenzio al fronte…
Silenzio…
*
Voor welke oorlog dragen mijn haren een wit lijkkleed? Leven de soldaten die de liefde uitschreeuwen nog?! Er heerst stilte aan het front. Mijn tanden doen pijn terwijl zij de witte vlag hijsen, Het vaderland lijdt, De mens huilt. De lijnen die over mijn voorhoofd vallen — van welk land zijn dit de prikkeldraden? Zij scheiden liefde van afscheid, Zij scheiden hoop van de dood, Zij scheiden de dagen, Zij scheiden de nachten… In de schemering wist iemand het zweet van mijn voorhoofd, Iemand zingt het Lied van de Vrijheid op het Saat-plein, Iemand ademt nog steeds op de intensive care, Er heerst stilte aan het front… Stilte…
*
Pour quelle guerre mes cheveux revêtent-ils un linceul blanc ?
Les soldats qui crient l’amour vivent-ils encore ?!
Le silence règne au front.
Mes dents me font mal en levant le drapeau blanc,
La Patrie souffre,
L’Homme pleure.
Les lignes qui tombent sur mon front —
les fils barbelés de quel pays sont-elles ?
Elles séparent l’amour de la séparation,
Elles séparent l’espoir de la mort,
Elles séparent les jours,
Elles séparent les nuits…
Au crépuscule, quelqu’un essuie la sueur de mon front,
Quelqu’un chante le Chant de la Liberté sur la Place Saat,
Quelqu’un, en réanimation, respire encore,
Le silence règne au front…
Le silence…
Umid Najjari was born on 15th of April 1989 in Tabriz (Iran). After graduating from Islamic Azad University of Tabriz in 2016, he entered Baku Aurasia University to continue his studies in Philology in Republic of Azerbaijan. “The land of the birds” and “Beyond the walls” are among his published works in addition to some translations. His poems have been published in USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, India, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chile and Iranian media. He was awarded the International LIFFT festival diploma in 2019. He achieved “IWA Bogdani” Award in 2021. He was awarded the “Mihai Eminescu” Award in 2022. He was awarded the International Prize “Medal Alexandre The Great” in 2022. He is Vice-President of the BOGDANI international writers’ association, with headquarters in Brussels and Pristina. and Turkic World Young Authors Association.
