Poetry from Kathleen Hulser

                 

Interior 64. Chris Kelly

We love to map our lives on geometry. Work is a grid of many discrete boxes. Play is the tangent refreshing the unpredictable impulse. Romance is a Venn diagram where overlap turbocharges the heart. Friendship plots to X and Y where the point of intersection undulates in the great sine curve of closeness. Aging is an arc bending towards infinity. Fibonacci numbers shape our thoughts into graceful proportions, an echo chamber of golden ratios. The fractals of enthusiasm bump against the paisley of tenderness. Euclid and Pythagoras made the body Earth’s measure, and Nature harmonizes our internal geometry.

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Kathleen Hulser is a poet, writer and public historian who lives in the Bronx and Connecticut, and has participated in many public art projects and activist groups as well as curating history exhibitions such as Slavery in New York and Petropolis: Urban Animal Companions. 

Synchronized Chaos’ First November Issue: Participants and Spectators

Once again, Synchronized Chaos Magazine expresses sympathy for all the people affected by the recent violence in the Middle East and shares the hope for a peaceful and just resolution and for justice and equality for the region’s many groups of people.

In the spirit of what we do here, we are sharing author Michael Lukas’ recommendations of fiction and poetry from both Israelis and Palestinians that he and others believe will help people understand the issues and the cultures in the region.

Please feel welcome to suggest other titles.

We are also aware that Afghanistan has suffered an earthquake that has killed thousands of people. We invite people to help however they can and suggest the Afghan-founded and led organization RAWA which assists those of all genders and racial backgrounds in the country. They are seeking people to translate articles on their website and help in a variety of ways.

Also, we stand with the people of Burma who are continuing to undergo war and repression. We encourage people to assist through groups such as Doctors Without Borders. And we acknowledge the great conflict and displacement crisis in Sudan and encourage people to donate books (textbooks included, everything except murder mysteries and encyclopedias) to schools in Africa through Books for Africa.

This month’s issue looks at life from different vantage points: from speakers who are fully engaged in their surroundings and from others who overhear or watch from a distance.

Silhouettes of hands in all skin colors up against the concrete walls.
Image c/o icon0.com 

Brian Michael Barbeito shares the experience of sitting alone and catching bits of nearby conversations. Michael Tyler relates encounters with random people at a party. J.D. Nelson reflects on the sounds he hears at night a men’s homeless shelter.

Christopher Bernard’s poem’s narrator finds herself mistakenly at her own funeral, overhearing snatches of gossip while entombed in a coffin.

In his photography, Daniel De Culla focuses in on objects and creatures that are slightly out of place. In Mark Young’s poem, a postwoman brings the slightly-askance world to the speaker’s doorstep. Nathan Anderson plays with words and letters in a rhythmical manner reminiscent of electronic music while Thomas Fink contributes unique horseshoe-shaped concrete poems on memory and change.

Taylor Dibbert writes of his speaker’s loss of London the dog, a moment he never knew would be the last with her.

Qosimova Parizoda speculates on the psychology of a short lived butterfly. Do they grieve the brevity of their existence?

Jerry Langdon evokes mortality in a philosophical, tragic sense through the symbol of a gathering of ravens, while Zahro Shamsiyya speculates on the world after her future death.

Peach colored flowers in the foreground with a yellow and black butterfly suspended nearby.

Image c/o Larisa Koshkina

Others focus in, deeply absorbed by a place or setting.

Isabel Gomez de Diego sends up photographic vignettes of fall country life, people, leaves, and apples. Brian Barbeito’s photography is a selection of natural moments, a mix of panoramas and closeups. Monira Mahbub celebrates the natural and human beauty of her country, Bangladesh.

Mesfakus Salahin describes the poetry written in the shapes of clouds, while Annie Johnson reflects on night’s blurring the edges between imagination, sentiment, and reality. Azemina Krehic meditates on danger through a surreal image of a mulberry tree.

Wazed Abdullah highlights the beauty and charm of music. John Culp metaphorically illustrates how the world of natural and human-built objects metaphorically calls to each other and communicates.

Graciela Noemi Villaverde loses herself and her bearings in the vast fiery energy of her creativity.

Kristy Raines highlights how true love fosters her personal growth and helps her become her best self, while Samuel Dayo evokes the intense emotions that come from romance. Faleeha Hassan depicts a love that consumes a woman’s life yet perennially remains a fantasy. Elmaya Jabbarova wistfully reflects on the tender feelings that can come with love and separation while Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa rejoices in romantic and family love that shines like a light in a sea of cruelty.

Bahora Bakhtiyorova offers a tribute to her sister who’s a friend and confidant, as well as sharing her personal accomplishments. Qurbonova Gulsanam shares how the support of her family helped her realize success. Mirta Liliana Ramirez basks in the love she has for her young son. Abdullah Al-Mamun reflects on how much he appreciates his best friend and Ali Sony honors his father’s teaching and the patient love he has for him and his mother and sister.

Adult's hands taking a baby's hands. Black and white photo.

Image c/o Victoria Borodinova

Jim Meirose sends up a story about how we relate to the physical, animal parts of ourselves.

Denis Emorine’s new collection A Step Inside, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, probes the inner struggles of an artist to create.

Many others are involved in their worlds, yet still observing themselves and others from a distance.

John Grey reflects on uncertainty through his humorous poems on life’s caprices. Noah Berlatsky considers his relative importance in the poetic sphere with humility.

Jerry Durick’s poetic speakers attempt to figure out their travels in various humorous ways.

Duane Vorhees writes of living within this world and seeking transcendence beyond it, while J.J. Campbell speaks to mortality and nostalgia and Dilnurabonu Vaisova sends up a poem of love and longing. Niginabonu Amirova looks back on the games her grandparents played on the playground and the life lessons they learned from them.

Muhammad Ubandoma writes of natural and supernatural forces which people can’t escape. Shamsiya Khudoynazarova Turumnova expresses a sadness so deep she wishes to destroy her own poetry. Aasma Tahir relates a kind-hearted soul’s escape from a city that had hurt them, while Aklima Ankhi watches the state of the world with concerned vigilance.

Art reminiscent of Victorian still life with a dagger, and old book, a goblet and a skull on a table with a red velvet tablecloth in a room with a checkered floor and concrete walls.

Image c/o Kai Stachowiak

This frame of mind has the advantage of allowing contributors to see the world as it is, yet speculate on alternative possibilities.

Maja Milojkovic urges all humans to heed the call of Mother Nature and keep the Earth clean and healthy. Mahbub Alam laments political violence and environmental destruction. Amanda Dixon describes her trip to a nature sanctuary along Georgia (USA)’s Ocmulgee River’s longleaf pine forests in great detail and reflects on how she and others can reconnect with nature. She further develops this theme in a poem on how embracing natural jungle environments helped heal post-traumatic stress syndrome for children of soldiers home from war.

Parvej Husain Takuder outlines some hypothetical positives and negatives of artificial intelligence technology.

Muhammad Ehsan offers a guide to leadership that inspires people towards competence rather than rote obedience.

Santiago Burdon conveys the continuing pull of past bad habits and wishes for better for himself.

Odina Rustamjonova resolves to make the most of life and keep a good attitude in hard times, while Terna Nicholas dreams of a better day in the future. Manzar Alam holds out long-awaited hope for a kinder world amidst terrible social injustice and violence.

The globe in a crystal ball held in someone's hands against a cloudy sky background.

Image c/o George Hodan

Begim Khadjieva outlines a moral dilemma on friendship, family, and hospitality, while Rukhsatbegim Hojieva shares a story about the virtue of being good even at risk to yourself. Ochilova Nozima speaks to the importance of respect and love for one’s elders.

Sevenchbonu Ozodova contributes an essay on how girls and women need education and skills to ensure their security. Bakhtiyorova Gavkhar outlines the educational programs of a leading university in Uzbekistan.

Yahya Azeroglu describes the accomplishments of Turkish human rights campaigner Nergiz Muhammedi and her qualifications for the Nobel Peace Prize. Susie Gharib pays tribute to dead Middle East human rights activist Rachel Corrie while reflecting on loss, regret, and silence.

Daniel De Culla draws on a dead pigeon as a metaphor for civilians who die in wartime, while Taofeeq Ibrahim issues a strident call for peace in his nation. Mykyta Ryzhykh evokes the tragicomedy of life and death in light of modern warfare while Stephen Jarrell Williams speaks to death and desolation and to the day when the powerful who wish harm to others will be brought down. Sayani Mukherjee highlights the preciousness of peace, how working through conflict and finding common ground can be even more difficult than love.

This issue suggests that there’s a place for both spectators and participants, both for those who actively take part in life and those who stop to listen and learn first. We hope you enjoy these reads!

Poetry from Qosimova Parizoda

Butterfly

The life of a butterfly is one day,
Isn't it hard for him?
Thinking of living one day after all,
Is not the biggest concern.

I thought once,
A butterfly has no heart.
Doesn't he cry?
It hurts even if he has a heart.

I have a question,
Don't come?
They are also each other,
I will hurt your hearts.


✍️ Qosimova Parizoda 

Poetry from Dilnurabonu Vaisova

Yellow and white daisies inside an envelope, white against a brown table.

Longing letter

I took a step towards you again,
Hopes for the eternal springs.
I have a longing letter in my hand
Endless heart-wrenching writings.

I took a step towards you again,
I had to send my letter a long time ago.
A grassy suspicion scratches my heart
Missing does not give peace for some reason?

I take one step towards you,
Endless thoughts fall like rain.
What about U? There are thousands of you who are silent
The hearts are filled with hope.

I took a step towards you again,
There are empty rooms in my heart.
This is a longing note full of pain and lamentation,
I know you have those pictures in your mind.

I take a step towards you every day...

✍ Dilnurabonu Vaisova
Student of Bukhara state university

Essay from Sevenchbonu Ozodova

Young Central Asian woman with long curly black hair and a black top and red jacket and brown belt standing outside on a brick sidewalk in front of a tree and lawn.
Sevenchbonu Ozodova
IF  YOU WANT TO BE POWERFUL , EDUCATE  YOURSELF !
One day , after  leaving   university  ,  my friend  and I took a taxi from the city to go home . At one point , the taxi  driver  asked us : 
“ who are you for society ? “ asked the question . 

And we : 
“We are a  student , we are  future teacher “ . we answered . Then taxi driver  looked at us and laughed : 
“What ?... you could not find it “ 

At the moment , I regretted spending  3 minutes of my  time thinking about  this person’s  question … Then the taxi driver looked at us : 
-	You are  a real  pest for the society , not only  for the society ,but also for your parents , no matter how much money you spend , pay the contract for your university and finish your studies , this one penny of your profit does not reach your family , because you feed  someone else …

But he doesn’t know  that I study  at the university with scholarship and  I thanked God for having a father behind me who would burn his soul for me to my study !
I wonder  if there are still people among us who think like that ? I can not belive it . In fact , I think that these people are the most harmful  people for our society today . Because that person thinks like that , and when he thinks  like that , he does not let his daughter study and poisons  many other  people around him . If everyone in our society thought like that , then our society would never produce educated , knowledgeable  , self-confident , conscious young people . 

A wise man : Make your children – sons and daughters – knowledgeable  and educated , if you have the opportunity to educate only one , make your daughter knowledgeable , because  I am a coward than a cowardly father , a wise and lonely father than an ignorant one . I saw that a righteous child was born to a fool father , but I did  not see a righteous child born to an immodest  mother , a wise one to an ignorant mother , and a righteous child to a thieving mother . If we want to  raise the nation , let’s educate women first !
  Nowadays  , many families and men are against women  going to study .  They  can not properly accept the opportunities  given to women and girls today . Because  they think it corrupts women and girls. 

   Recently , a women threw herself and her 3 children from 9th floor .  This is just a tragedy . This not a women’s , children’s or husband’s tragedy , but a nation’s tragedy . This is because  this nation burdened  a women with tasks that are  30 times more than her body  , they  decided that  if women works , she should give the money she earns to her  husband and others  , and if she  doesn’t work , she should sit at home without  spending  any money at all .  Also , they burdened  a women with the responsibility of having a child , a husband , parents-in-law , and a  sitter –in  for 7 clans .  
They came up with  the ancient  world  view  that only  the mother  should  be responsible  for the child , and father should be a pet man . 
This woman … this is not the first  … this is not the last …
Because with us  , a woman  is not a person  , because  she has been  prepared to be a bride  all her life  , she has not received education  , she has  not  received sarpo … she is not satisfied with the love of her parents   , she is only  satisfied  with advice , she is  satisfied with  unsolicited  advice…

As long as  the environment in society  does not change , such situations will continue  to repeat  themselves … 
Women who do not  receive  love and help  in raising  children  from their husbands  treat their children  as personal  property …
And if he wants to beat , if he wants  to kill …
And the society  builds  a city where they died  , builds tall buildings …
But it does not build  a proper  ,  practical system  to stop  this situation ! 
Let’s say even when women go to ask for a girl , they look  at  the girl from head to toe as if  they  were looking at an object . And in most cases , questions about  

“how many languages you know ? ‘ ,
 “what you are interested in  ?” , and 
“ which book you like ?”  are not asked .
 What is the question ? 
“They ask  if you know  how to cook?”  ,
 “Do you bake dough ?”
 “Are you a cooker?” …

In fact , you don’t  need a very  high IQ  for  these  things  , you can even learn  them by looking them up on the internet  these days .  The world  view of women  in society is this ignorance . 
         
         My goal is that every girl is willing , strong ,independent… 
   Let’s   study , girls : 
This is the only way  that will lead you to a better future and a beautiful life .

-	 In order not to depend on anyone tomorrow ;
-	To be self –sufficient ;
-	So that you can see what you want;
-	To give your child a good education and upbringing;
-	In order to have your own opinion and clear judgement   when  speaking ! 
-	And not to commit similar unconscious  actions . 


           There are so many  reasons that I can’t  finish writing ! 


     The education of girls is so  important in our society that to know this , it is enough to look  at the lives  of many women and girls around us . Women are  suffering , living under heavy pressure , dying , killing their child …


It    can  be  concluded  that    the  society  with educated  women and  girls  is the  strongest  and most  mature . The reason is that when a women studies , it affects not only  herself  but also her family  , children and relatives . 

Before the child is born what the mother  does in the womb , if she  learns , it will affect the child as well .  The way of life of families will change ,  there  will be fewer quarrels and misunderstandings in families where the woman is knowledgeable and intelligent .
 Today , we are living  in a time where the digital age is developing  , you can earn money sitting at home , you can be a useful person  in general . This is the time and it’s great , it should be used  properly . Every woman has a great tendency to grow , to be useful , to show herself . We just don’t recognize this tendency ourselves .
 

 Let’s say  you have a desire and talent for teaching   , you can take small videos  and post them   on the Internet  and show yourself . It is  interesting  because  so many people , kids , may not know what you know , and it is a win-win . You earn money  by teaching what you know , you show  your talent  , and  because of this , many people get new knowledge .

 And motivation for you : 
        Dear girls , if you try and fail , congratulations ! Most people do not even try .
        Dear girls ,  work hard so that one day you can write a big cheque  to your parents , so that they can go on a world tour 
        Dear girls , study hard that one day your school will invite you as  a chief guest.

        Dear girls , your career should your first priority . It is not selfishness. It is necessary .
        Dear girls , your father is working 12 hours  a day just to give a better life . So you have no rights to disappoint that person 
         Dear girls , when your parents are not  rich but still afford to give you a beautiful life . Appreciate their  sacrifices . 

   And  most importantly :  IF   YOU WANT  TO BE POWERFUL , EDUCATE YOURSELF  ! 

Story from Rukhsatbegim Hojieva

Young Central Asian woman with long straight brown hair behind her head, brown eyes, a beige collared shirt and pink jacket standing in front of a white paneled wall.
Rukhsatbegim Hojieva

The greatest virtue

Once upon a time, there was a nobleman who had three sons. One day he called them to his presence:

My sons, I want to test you. Travel for a month. Spend this one month of your life doing good deeds useful to the people.

He said, “If one of you has the greatest virtue with your good deeds, I will give him the very valuable ring on my finger.”

Central Asian image of boys in cloaks tied at the waist with sashes and trumpets and balls. There's a horse and a man in a green cloak, sash, and orange striped coat and headdress.

His sons scattered everywhere and went on a journey. After traveling for a month, they returned to their father. The father asked his eldest son:

My son, what is the greatest meritorious deed you have done this month?

Father, one day I was passing by a garden street alone, and a very valuable diamond fell somewhere. I took it and immediately handed it over to the relevant authorities. The head of the administration thanked me, wrote this certificate in my hand, found the owner of the diamond, and handed it over to him. What I did is a proof of my rightness, isn’t this action the greatest virtue?

answered the eldest son.

His father said:

You did the right thing, my son, you did your duty. But this diamond is not your personal property.

Then the middle son spoke:

One day, I was walking on the edge of a big ditch. At that moment, I saw that a young boy had fallen into the water and was in danger of dying. I immediately threw myself into the water and pulled the child out of the water with great force. I saved him from death and handed him over to his parents. His parents were very grateful to me and blessed me. Even though my life is in danger, I think I deserve your reward for what I have done to save a young child from death.

Father holding his son’s hand:

Good son. I congratulate you; you felt your heart filled with joy just because of this beautiful work, so that is not a reward in itself? – he said.

Then the youngest son bowed to his father and said:

Father, there is a person who always looks at me with hostility and does bad things. Although I have done him no harm, he follows me and even waits for an opportunity to kill me. Last night, I saw my enemy sleeping on the edge of a very low cliff. If he’s sleepily tossed to and fro or woken up by a loud noise, he may fall into a precipice trying to get up. I slowly went to him without making a sound. I held him very carefully and slowly started pulling him towards me. Having escaped the danger for a long time, I continued on my way with high spirits and joy.

His father, filled with tears from his son’s good work, hugged him and kissed him on the face. And he said to his youngest son:

Long live my son! You have the right to receive my reward, because the greatest virtue in the world is to do good for evil, – he prayed, putting the precious ring on his son’s finger.

Essay from Qurbonova Gulsanam

Young Central Asian girl with black hair and a white shirt and black buttoned overalls.
Qurbonova Gulsanam
REASONS FOR MY SUCCESS

If a person achieves some kind of result in the world, his parents, teachers, and relatives will definitely support him.
The key to my success in life is my parents and teachers. They have always believed in me and are always by my side. They always support me when I achieve something.

  My father, being a school teacher, created a lot of conditions for us, his children, because they want us to become mature staff in the future.My father teaches physical education, so I have a special love for sports, especially table tennis, checkers, chess, volleyball, etc.I got into sports through them, that is, I took a step and achieved many results, I got 1st-2nd places at the district level, at the regional level.
My father always gives me motivation: they encourage me by saying that you can do it, you can play it.My father is happy with my every achievement. I always try to make my parents smile.I always want my parents to be proud of me.

My teachers are also the reason for my success in life.To this day, I have learned from many teachers.including my first teacher Pirmatova Shoira. She is the person who introduced me to letters. She made me interested in knowledge from my youth.
 Another teacher of mine is Saidov Javlon, a german language teacher. I see this person not only as my brother, but also as my real teacher. Through him, I gained a lot of knowledge and achieved results.For example, in the 9th and 10th grades of German language, I took the 2nd place in the district and region and received a monetary award. In addition, my school team and I won 75 million soums. The main reason why I won these awards is my teacher.I think that these achievements are a great achievement. Even now, I regularly practice german with my teacher.I try to live up to the trust of my parents and teachers.

   My future goals are that I will always help others in life, find my place, become a professional specialist, and strive to be the child my parents dreamed of.I realized in life that when a person wants something seriously, he will definitely achieve it, because such a desire was born in the spirit of the universe. Every person was created for this reason in life. If you set a goal, you must achieve it, so do not stop working.The whole world is with you, don't forget that. I would like to thank the people behind my success and give them a reason to be proud of having daughter and students like me.
QURBONOVA GULSANAM Ilhom daughter was born on April 16, 2006 in Dehkanabad district of Kashkadarya region. She is currently studying in the 10th grade of school 68 in Dehkanabad district. She has achieved many achievements to date: in education, sports and others.her articles are published in international journals.

QURBONOVA GULSANAM was born on April 16, 2006 in Dehkhanabad district of Kashkadarya region. She is currently a grade 10 student at school number 68 in Dehkhanabad district and is proud of the regional German language. She has also achieved many results in sports, table tennis, chess, checkers.