Lily Swarn is a very sensitive person and through her poetry we can feel, not only read her poems. She is giving us a morning breeze that can follow our sentence in our quotidian life.
I discovered reading her poetry that verses have colours and perfumes like the flowers and this book is a must to read and even go to all libraries.
Now I want to share about my life. Are you ready to listen to me?. As we all know, every person suffers from painful losses at some point in their lives. My dad was on his deathbed…
Even while in pain, he used to lecture about how I should be there for my mom and sisters, protect them, and be the man of this family even at a young age.
I knew that day was coming, the day I would be losing my title “kid,” the day I would carry all responsibilities of my dad’s and also mine, and the day I would become father to my siblings.
It came… It was harder than I thought to bear the pain of losing the person you love the most and at the same time, to be strong for your family as the only man left now.
It was painful—the fact that I didn’t spend time with my dad a lot, the fact that we don’t have enough memories, and the fact that Dad doesn’t feel proud when I achieve the dreams I promised to him. To fix that, I started to spend more time with my mom; it wasn’t talking and chilling but more like cleaning the house, cooking in the early morning, and going to work together. I got a job in a clothes shop. It was harder than I thought, giving suggestions, communicating with different types of people, and handling their personalities.
Even though I faced some challenges at first by not managing time properly, in the end, I learned to be there for my family and work. Also, my teacher Shukurova O’g’iloy helped me a lot in learning English. She was always patient, kind, and understanding. Although English seemed tough to me at first, thanks to my teacher’s kind words and wise advice, I gradually fell in love with the language. She taught me grammar, pronunciation, and, most importantly, self-confidence. I was afraid to speak English before, but my teacher’s words, “You can do it,” made me confident. She gave me strength and confidence and never left me alone. Every lesson of my teacher was interesting, and I looked forward to each lesson. Instead of criticizing my mistakes, she patiently explained them and encouraged me to try again. This gave me great confidence. My teacher became not only a teacher for me but also a kind person, like a mother. She loved me, supported me, and cared deeply for me. That’s why I value her so much and love her like a mother in my life.
This challenge, one I cursed at first, taught me being strong doesn’t mean hiding pain; it means carrying it while still showing up for the people who need you. Most importantly, I discovered that real connection comes from shared moments, not expensive places. These lessons have shaped me into someone who values family, hard work, and growth.
My name is Annamurodov Umarbek, a passionate and ambitious high school student born on November 10, 2009, in Karshi, Kashkadarya Region, Uzbekistan!
I currently study at college. I have earned several educational grants and awards, and my achievements include being an IA volunteer, Collab Crew member, volunteer at a youth center, Youth Perspective Club member, Youth Run Club member, Avlod talk participant, coordinator of Kashkadarya, and 1-degree diploma.
With a deep interest in leadership, public speaking, and writing, I continue to work hard toward achieving academic excellence and inspiring others in my community. A bright example of this you can find on my Telegram channel @Annamurodovv_Umarbek.
I cry out for you, for it is lonely here without you
My only happiness is knowing this sadness will not last
because the warmth of the sun will be coming soon
The cry of the Cuckoo will turn into the beautiful Bird of Paradise
and the return of Summer will dry your tears..
Your Lily, will bloom just for you
I await your return anxiously..
Love Will Heal my Soul
In a world where nothing makes sense anymore;
Where the clouds no longer rain, and oceans thirst
I refuse to let the perils of giving up, win
I am not a woman who quits, and I need nothing
but the nectar of hope that fills my tearful eyes
Paint a portrait of my soul with the colors of red
and write me a poem filled with sound of the wind
My heart beats with the blood of a warrior
though soft and gentle on the surface of my being
I can withstand the beating from the world around me
and I will stitch the wounds around my own heart
with strands of resilience that will keep me, alive.
And in the end, it will be love that heals my soul.
Step Back in Time
I miss the words we used to utter in the night
that seem now like dreams woken from
Let me find you as you were long ago
with caring thoughts and concern for me
I still seek that man and never forgot him
I believe he still remains, in his heart of hearts
I wait for him to take a step back in time
and once more sing again the song
that won my heart when we first met
I miss hearing it in the night, under the lit stars
as I gazed into the eyes of who used to sing it.
Kristy Ann Raines was born Kristy Ann Rasmussen in Oakland California, in the United States of America.
She is an accomplished international poet and writer. Kristy has two self-published books on Amazon titled, “The Passion within Me”, and an anthology of epistolary poems, written with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai, titled, “I Cross My Heart from East to West”.
She has one children’s short story book coming out soon, titled “Tishya the Dragon”, and a few other children’s stories to follow.
Kristy is also working on finishing two very special fantasy books that have been in the works for quite a few years, titled “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and the Lion”.
She is also writing her autobiography titled “My Very Anomalous Life”.
It is her life story that few know about, and the many transformations she went through. She reveals every interesting and sometimes tragic aspect of her life. She shares her failures, victories, tears, joys, losses, heartbreaks, and how she changed, by the grace of God.
A loving family and how two wonderful children stood by her through her transformation to who she is today.
Kristy has received numerous awards for her distinctive writing style and her work as an advocate and humanitarian around the world.
Kristy also enjoys painting, making pottery, writing song lyrics, and being with her family.
She is married, has an older brother and sister, two wonderful children, and is a proud grandmother of three beautiful granddaughters. with one great-grandchild on the way!
**In collaboration with the Literary cultural initiative POETRY Unites People Founder Eva Petropoulou Lianou**
**An exclusive interview presented by Eviasmile**
Journalist **Giorgos Pratzikos** introduces the beloved author and poet **Fay Rempelou**,
Greece
I met Fay Rempelou, although we live very close – she in Chalkida and I in Psachna – (and she herself has roots in the local community of Psachna), through Eva Petropoulou-Lianou last year, at “The Path of Hero.” Indeed, Eva and the Path know how to connect and unite people. From the very first moment I heard her, I sensed something unique in her poems and thought to myself that I would one day interview her. Well, the time has finally come.
—
**1. Fay, I know you don’t give interviews often. Searching online, I only found one more from eight years ago. I want to ask you many things, but I’ll start a bit unconventionally: Let’s begin with Eva Petropoulou-Lianou, thanks to whom we met. What does Eva mean to you?**
Eva is multi-talented, a very good writer of fairy tales and a poet. She is also a remarkable organizer of cultural events, who has given and continues to give her utmost to culture, especially in these difficult and cold times we live in, where material gains are placed above humanity. I met Eva at poetry gatherings of the group *Poetry in the Age of Auctioning*, and we immediately became friends because, above all, she is a wonderful person who gives from her soul. A true human being who inspires love and admiration.
—
**2. The place where we met is “The Path of Hero” in Politika, Evia, where, for two consecutive years, the Women’s Poetry Festival Greece–Mexico was held. You also participated both years. What are your experiences?**
This event, dedicated to peace and gender equality, is very important. Especially when it takes place in the enchanting *Path of Hero*, a beautiful and mystical landscape that speaks directly to our hearts, born out of the love of Hero’s parents, who gave everything to create this space, a true gift and cultural bridge. This magical place ignites the imagination, making me believe that our calls for peace and equality across the world will be heard.
From both years of the festival, I keep a wonderful experience, not only because I had a great time and felt inspired, but also because I met amazing people who took part. The organization, the poetry, the music, the venue—all together were impeccable and felt like a beautiful fairytale, full of joy and optimism.
Moreover, because Greece is not only Athens, this festival taking place in the province contributes to the spiritual growth and flourishing of the local community, just like all events that promote, in times of individualism and spiritual inertia, participation, collectivity, and culture.
—
**3. I took a look at your work *Everything is a Circle*. Do you believe that life really works this way?**
Yes, I believe that our stories, our relationships, and our lives in general follow their own cycles. Beyond that, however, I gave my book this title because its four stories create a circular flow, starting from the first, where power, through technological development, has fully controlled and subdued people. Then, raising questions about our roots and our capacity for resistance in the next two stories, it ends with the last, where love, passion, and altruism conquer everything harsh and inhuman that tries to subdue us. If this human stance in life fails, we return again to the first story.
—
**4. I especially liked the second story of your book, which speaks about a tree. As you have mentioned, the tree is symbolic and refers to our roots. How do you see today’s society? Do we have a chance to return to our roots, or will we eventually be completely uprooted?**
I’m glad you liked it, Giorgos. The story with the tree is indeed symbolic, representing our roots, which, since the 1990s, Greek society seems to forget, avoid, or even deny, carried away by the trend of easy affluence, urban comforts, and greed.
As the well-known poet Katerina Gogou said, our roots are there so we can grow branches, not to hold us down to the ground. And I too believe that progress is necessary, but without tradition, the memories of our past, and our history, we will end up with inhuman progress, with modern societies stripped of values and sensitivity.
Especially today, when man tends to be replaced by a mere number, this is a great danger, and our connection to our roots, tradition, and history becomes an essential issue.
—
**5. The last story in *Everything is a Circle* refers to a theatrical game, where the protagonists are Tarot cards. This really surprised me. Which Tarot card, among those that appear in your story, represents you the most?**
In this story with the Tarot cards, which is the final story of the book *Everything is a Circle* and my personal favorite, I identify with Chrysanthe, who, together with Nektarios, forms the Lovers, the protagonists of the story. Their love brings about social revolution and resolution—the victory of Humanity against harsh and inhuman social systems.
And that’s because I have always believed that love and passion, containing the authenticity of free choice, were, are, and will always remain revolutionary acts.
—
**6. Searching online, I saw that you have participated in many poetry collections. Although it’s difficult, can you tell me which contribution stands out the most for you?**
My contribution to the erotic poetry collection *Hello, I love you, goodbye*, and to the collection dedicated to the elderly *With the Pi of Poetry*. That doesn’t mean that all the other poetry and prose anthologies I took part in were not equally important to me, that they didn’t inspire me equally, or that I didn’t give them my best.
—
**7. September is dedicated to the elderly. I know that there is a poetry collection dedicated to them, in which you participated. How does Fay Rempelou, the poet and author, view old age? Does it scare you?**
As I write in the poem for old age with which I participated, *The Circle of Life*, “there is no death. In the face of every old person hides the future child.” It is natural that old age and death scare us, but only as future insecurities that all people share. In reality, old age is wisdom and the essence of life, helping you rediscover your simplicity, spontaneity, and childlike nature.
As for death, it is something we should not fear, because, firstly, as the writer and psychologist Leo Buscaglia says, it is our best friend, reminding us to live each moment that is given to us. And secondly, as Epicurus wrote, it is someone we never actually meet, since when he comes, we are no longer here.
—
**8. To close, I’d like to lighten the mood and ask you: what are you preparing for the future?**
I am preparing the publication of my fourth book, which will be a poetry collection titled *Unaware Perpetrators*. It speaks about people whose actions’ consequences, no matter how much they embellish their motives, transcend even themselves and become unmanageable! I am already in contact with publishers, and I hope it will come to fruition soon!
In closing, Giorgos, thank you for giving me the space and stimulus to introduce myself to the world and talk about myself and my works, as well as for your overall contribution to the promotion of culture in my beloved homeland.