Life is betwixt two door, Which start and end. Depends on seconds and hours. Elation and enmity modify, Status of living beings. Expression may change, Height may grow, Weight will increase, but The mind of hopes stay still. Billionaires gain up Poors finding way to feed their small fry. Some people running for secure, Some one inquiring for bitty space to live. Patient, Kind, pleasure, euphoric brand human as humanity. but, day-by-day it destructing. Life is a process of, Dying tragically between two doors.
Baby
My friend tells me she wants a dog.
A Chihuahua. Tiny. Six pounds.
Maybe seven. Small enough to
carry. To sit in a car seat. Or a
shopping cart at the store. A little
dog. To hold in her arms. To cuddle.
Like a baby. Sweet baby. Like the
one she tried to have. Tried and
tried. Years ago. But couldn’t.
What Can It Hurt?
My friend tells me she wants a dog.
We go to Barnes & Noble today.
For dog magazines. And a book.
Maybe two. About Chihuahuas.
Even though. Her husband still says
No. To a dog. Any dog. But does
that include magazines? Or books?
I think not. That’s what I tell her.
She agrees. But we don’t tell him.
She Can’t
My friend tells me she wants a dog.
Searches Facebook. For Chihuahua
rescues. Finds them. Likes them.
Follows them. Texts twenty pictures
to me. Today. At least. Maybe more.
Homeless Chihuahuas. All of them.
So, so sad. She wants them. All of
them. You can’t. I say. She knows.
Laura Stamps is the author of 51 novels, novellas, short story collections, and poetry books, including “Dog Dazed” (Kittyfeather Press, 2022), “The Good Dog” (Prolific Pulse Press 2023), and “Addicted to Dog Magazines” (Impspired, 2023). Recipient of a Pulitzer Prize nomination and 7 Pushcart Prize nominations. www.LauraStampsFiction.blogspot.com
HISTORICAL ROOTS OF TURKISH-SOGHD RELATIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA
The system of trade routes of regional and international importance, formed in the territory of Central Asia, has become important in the life of the peoples of the East and West. Mil. cf. This road, which began its activity in the III-II millennium cf. In 138 AD, Zhang Jiang revealed to China that the Sughdians were not only skillful traders, but also suppliers of quality goods to the markets. Sogdian products went from Byzantium to Korea and Japan, from Tibet to Sri Lanka by land and sea, there was a great demand for agricultural and handicraft products of Sogd abroad.
Chinese sources told the Sughd region: “The climate is warm, suitable for growing high-quality wheat.” The inhabitants are inclined towards gardening and agriculture. The trees are beautiful,” he described. During this period, horticultural products (peach and cherry), viticulture (raisins), thoroughbred horses and sheep were exported to China. According to the 7th-century Chinese tourist and monk Xuan Tsang, who competed with the Sogd homeland of China in silk production, the customs of the Sutulisen (Ustrushona) people were similar to those of the Choch people, and their king was considered a vassal of the Turkic Khagan. This shows that Ustrushena is under the influence of Turkic khanates such as Sogd and Choch and its place in Turkish-Sogdian relations.
During the time of the Turkic Khanate, the Turks became the leading force in the oasis. But the Turkic rulers of the oasis used the Sogdian script in their legal proceedings. In particular, coins dating back to the 7th-8th centuries were minted in Sogdian script and language. In this science, they are called Turkic-Sogdian coins. In the early Middle Ages, under the influence of the Sogdian population, the Chochians used their language and writing. The language of communication of the Turkic layer here was the Sogdian language. The Ferghana Valley and the transit routes passing through it played an incomparable role in the trade relations of the Sogd with the East and Turkish-Sogdian relations. The trade routes passing through the Ferghana Valley formed a network in the regional and external relations of the Sogd, and in this direction the Sogdians followed the same route as the Choch. cf. Those who started the movement from the IV-III centuries.
From the 1st century, the Sogdians reached the Indian territories through Tokharistan. In particular, out of more than one and a half thousand written materials in 17 languages found by the German-Pakistani expedition in the Karakorum valley, 250 belong to the Sogdians. The Sughdians actively traded on the mountainous Shatial and Khilos roads of the Karakoram valley and extended their activities to the southern and Turkish-Sogdian relations continued in an easterly direction and went beyond the borders of Central Asia and found a peculiar development in the oases of East Turkestan of Central Asia and in the areas adjacent to China.
It is known that the Silk Road increased China’s interest not only in Davan (Fergana), but also in the whole of Central Asia. Therefore, the emperors sent their spy tourists (Song Yun, Xuan Jian, Hoi Chao, etc.) to Central Asia and tried to collect a lot of information. Sogdians million cf. From the 5th to the 4th centuries, it penetrated into the oases of East Turkestan through trade routes. Mil. cf. Trade relations with China have been established since the 3rd century. During these times, the first Sogdian colonies appeared in East Turkestan. The role of the Sogdians in the creation of the Turkic khanate in Central Asia was incomparable. As representatives of the Sogdian colonies in Gansu, they took over the trade to the south, east and north.
With the Turkish Khanate having defeated the Chinese Sui dynasty, the Sogdians took control of the province of Hami near the city of Kumul and introduced khaganate rule here.Kan Su-mi from Samarkand was appointed to the post of ruler (duhufusi) of the Beyan district in Ordos. During this period, immigrants from Sogd continued to arrive in these areas. It was not easy for the Sogdians to trade with China. Historian Hou Ren-chih writes that China, which pursued a policy of “no pay, no trade, there is pay – there is trade,” was primarily Turkic.
The Sughdians sold their fabrics, garments and handicrafts to the Turks at a low price, based on economic and political interests. In the 7th-8th centuries, under the influence of the Turkish Khanate, Chinese-style coins were minted in Sogd. The trading activities of the Sogdians throughout Central Asia prepared the political, socio-economic and ethno-cultural ground for Turkic-Sogdian relations in the early Middle Ages and intensified the process of creating a single ethno-cultural space in a vast region. In addition, the network of the Great Silk Road from Marv to the Great Wall of China united the peoples and peoples who lived in this area. On the basis of economic cooperation, it brought them closer politically and ethno-culturally.
Competing with China in the East and Iran in the West, the Turks and Sogdians worked equally hard to preserve the independence of the region. Since the 6th century, the Turks have united and successfully used not only military, but also diplomatic methods to conquer other territories. Sogdian diplomacy helped them in this matter. The diplomatic abilities of the Sogdians in this regard were not lost sight of by the rulers of the newly formed Turkic state. Annapanto (Nakhband), a native of Bukhara and a Sogdian living in Gansu, who supported the independent policy of the Turks, went to the palace of the Chinese emperor in 544 as an ambassador of the Turks.
The conquest of Eastern Turkestan and Central Asia by the Hephthalites, and Khorasan and Balkh by the Sassanids led to a struggle between the allies for the possession of the Silk Road. The attitude of the leading Sogdians in trade to this issue was of great importance. The Sughdians served the interests of the kaganate, faithful to the tradition of brotherhood with the Turks. The Kaganate expected advice, economic participation and support from the Sogdians in this matter. Because it was possible to gain control over trade routes through the Sogdians. But the caravan routes to the West passed through Iran. The connection of the Turkish Khanate with Byzantium through the territory of Iran and Iran with China through Central Asia prompted the parties to compromise. The rapprochement of the Turks with Byzantium put Iran in a difficult position, as a result of which “political and economic conflicts between the allies intensified.”
The movement of Sogdian merchants through Iran was limited. They could solve this problem only with the help of the Turkish Khanate. No wonder the Turks and Sogdians were depicted side by side on the paintings in Afrosiab and Penjikent.
pushing the agenda
they
mess with school curriculum
encourage
child masturbation
seeking truth
she asks
alexa
to explain
the purpose of its device
poisoning
mother earth
they
manipulate the weather
planes spray daily
Heavenly Temples and Towers
I rode a heavenly camel towards a desolate desert, .
a jade bottle poured the sweet dew of the Kingdom of Heaven
and converged a lake of springs that never dry up.
so where the giant trees in prehistoric times grew up.
Their branches and leaves rippled like the garden of phoenixes and birds,
and the song of birds sounded like music,
which made the clouds in the sky to be intoxicated by the time.
And the colorful and transparent grits grew into the huge jewels in the dreams
Even grew into heavenly temples and towers.
3.20.2018
一座一座天国的殿宇楼阁
我骑一匹天国的骆驼来到一座无人的沙漠
一只玉瓶倾泻天国的甘露汇成永不枯竭的泉水之湖
于是生长出史前的巨树枝叶婆娑宛如凤鸟的花园而鸟鸣如乐让时光醉了天空的云朵
而一粒一粒五色透明的沙砾在梦境里长成巨大的宝石长成一座一座天国的殿宇楼阁
2018.3.20
Giant's Yourself in Another Giant City
The gods who delight and smile in your body,
much older than stone and much younger than the morning.
They bestow you with the nectar of the kingdom of heaven,
make your bones becomes much more transparent with each passing day.
So the light of soul wakes up in your head,
then you hear a ballad from an outer world;
In the labyrinth of time you see giant's yourself in another giant city.
3.15.2018
那另一座巨城的巨人的自己
在你体内欢喜微笑的诸神比石头更古老比早晨更年轻
他们赐你天国的甘露让你的骨骼一天比一天透明
于是灵魂之光在头颅里醒来你听到一曲天外的歌谣
在时间的迷宫里你看到了那另一座巨城的巨人的自己
2018.3.15
Prehistoric Myself
When the heaven woke up in my body day after day
and the world began to be hyaline and smiling,
I saw myself fifty thousand years ago
that engraved the poems of shimmering gold in the jade.
The stars were spinning in space and composed the mysterious pictures,
and that giant who travelled by light waved to me joyfully,
made me to be happy and perfectly comfortable,
as if have met prehistoric myself.
3.7.2018
史前的自己
当天堂在我体内一天天醒来而世界开始透明微笑
我看到五万年前的自己在玉石上刻下金光闪烁的诗章
星辰在太空旋转组合出神秘的画图而那乘光而行的巨人
向我欢喜地招手令我陶然若醍醐灌顶仿佛见到了史前的自己
2018.3.7
The Soul is Invisible Muse
Open your eyes of soul and you'll see countless yourself.
No time goes by, as if the sun and the moon never set and rise.
The world is only a book of phantom and the soul is invisible Muse.
Before the words hadn't beent born yet, you have been a giant
from the the kingdom of gold, who know not what is meant by yourself.
3.5.2018
灵魂是隐形的缪斯
睁开你的灵魂之眼你将看到无数个自己
没有时光之飞逝犹如日月从未落下与升起
世界只是一部幻影之书而灵魂是隐形的缪斯
在词语尚未诞生之前你曾是黄金之国的巨人不知何谓自己
2018.3.5
A Flying Saucer of Giants
Day by day the lightning in my body is waking up
and flying to this mortal world that dark night like iron.
Seeking devils's head and make him to be a skeleton of hell and repay a gem time
That python's body will become a golden bridge towards a giant city of tomorrow,
standing out against the sky , like the clouds rising and gathering.
And an interstellar spaceship on my palm like a flying saucer of giants,
that flashing miraculous brightness from an extraterrestrial Galaxy.
4.13.2018
天外之星系的闪烁灵光之巨人之蝶
我体内的闪电正在一天天醒来而飞向这个黑夜如铁的尘世
寻找魔王的头颅让他成为地狱的骷髅而偿还那一枚时间之宝石
那巨蟒的身躯成了一座黄金之桥而通向明日之巨城矗立于天际云蒸霞蔚
而我手掌之上一轮星际之飞船犹如来自天外之星系的闪烁灵光之巨人之蝶
2018.4.13
Yuan Hongri (born 1962) is a renowned Chinese mystic, poet, and philosopher. His work has been published in the UK, USA, India, New Zealand, Canada, and Nigeria; his poems have appeared in Poet's Espresso Review, Orbis, Tipton Poetry Journal, Harbinger Asylum, The Stray Branch, Acumen, Pinyon Review, Taj Mahal Review, Madswirl, Shot Glass Journal, Amethyst Review, The Poetry Village, and other e-zines, anthologies, and journals. His best known works are Platinum City and Golden Giant. His works explore themes of prehistoric and future civilization.
Yuanbing Zhang (b. 1974), is Mr.Yuan Hongi's assiastant and translator.He is a Chinese poet and translator, works in a Middle School, Yanzhou District , Jining City, Shandong Province, China. He can be contacted through his email- 3112362909@qq.com.
As Sure As The Pope Was Catholic
I was watching some news channel in the Social Stigma Bar as usual waiting for my dealer to show. There was a story about the funeral of Pope John Paul l. It was being broadcast from Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Instantly it captured my interest and I asked the bartender to turn up the volume. He gave me a questioning glare but followed through with my request.
Whenever I'm reminded of that place , I become one pissed off recovering Catholic. Let me explain the reason for my animosity.
It was during my college years, I majored in debauchery with a minor in celebratory participation well on my way to graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in irresponsibility. I was checking through the class schedule for the upcoming semester. Looking to enroll in classes not requiring any kind of enthusiastic commitment. I was informed there was a World Religion class with exactly that type of prerequisite. The Professor never took attendence or assigned homework. The only test given during the entire semester was a take home exam. It was a course requiring very little effort and was based on a Pass/Fail grading scale. When classes resumed for the semester unfortunately the professor who taught the course had died over the summer and was replaced by some Christian fundamentalist. It was rumored she was part of some religious cult and was rescued by some group her parents hired. She definitely took the subject matter seriously without adopting any of the past professor's methods.
As soon as possible I dropped the class and enrolled in a Classical Art and Music Appreciation class taught by a professor who had hung out with Ken Kesey and the Pranksters.
It was one of the best classes I have ever experienced. I never missed a single class and got stoned before attending. I was sure the Professor did the same. He blasted the music through giant JBL speakers with the decibel level at maximum. It was so intense it felt as though you were in a concert hall. On a large white movie screen behind him he showed videos of Classic Art pieces while the music blared. These were the first music videos produced long before MTV.
It was recommended to have a valid passport when signing up for the course. We were later informed the top fifteen students would be eligible to participate in a class field trip. This year the destination was Rome, Italy and Vatican City which included a tour of Saint Peter's Basilica as well as the Sistine Chapel. The cost had yet to be determined but there were scholarships available through a benevolent benefactor.
By some miraculous act of kindness by the Gods I qualified for the trip. I finished at fourteenth in class and was also awarded a scholarship from the University. My folks kicked in a few hundred dollars with some relatives also donating to the cause. Twelve days in Italy was next on my agenda.
My grandfather passed a month before the trip leaving me his gold and diamond pinky ring. I cherished the ring and wore it proudly. It was a bit too large for my ring finger and at times slipped off of my hand.
There I was in Italy contemplating what type of trouble was on the menu. On our first day we took a tour of the Saint Peter's Basilica while mass was in session. The scantily dressed, attractiveTour Guard asked that we be extremely quiet and speak in a whisper. She began passing out brochures with the history and facts pertaining to the Basilica. As I reached for one of the pamphlets my ring flew off of my finger. It was launched into the area where parishioners were receiving mass.
"Goddamn it my ring!" I yelled.
Drawing the attention of the entire Cathedral.
It pinged on the marble floor with a distinct echo. I could hear it rolling away under the pews. I ran after the ring but I was quickly captured by two Swiss Guards. They pulled me out from underneath the pews by my legs.
When I resisted it caused them to become angry. Next they physically carried me out of the Cathedral ejecting me through a side exit which was the office of the Administrator. They guided me inside where I was pushed down with extreme force by my shoulders into a chair.
A short, balding wrinkled faced guy sat down behind the desk in front of me. He asked if I spoke Italian in Italian so I acted as though I had no idea what he was talking about. (Actually I knew what he was saying, I was just playing dumb.)
I asked him if he understood English in English and he shook his head no. Although he obviously understood my question. He held up a finger signaling for me to wait a minute. Soon a priest sat down taking his place and asked me where I was from in perfect English. He had a strong New York accent. Finally I was granted a chance to explain my dilemma. After I conveyed my tragic story he pretended to appear concerned. But he wasn't a very good actor. I could tell he really didn't care about my unfortunate circumstance in the least..
He informed me they would search for the ring, however if they didn't have success in recovering it, I should file a claim with the Vatican.
I filled out the paperwork which was printed in Italian with Father Brooklyn translating the directions. My claim amounted to $3,898.00. It included initial cost, sentimental value and pain and suffering. I gave them my home address and other contact information. I requested that my claim be paid with a cashier's check issued from an international bank. No checks, not even from the Pope himself.
He finished explaining my claim had to be approved by their Insurance Adjuster. I would be hearing from them in a month or so. Yay, 'Fat Chance' I thought as we shook hands and said ciao.
That took place over six years ago without ever hearing anything from the Catholic Diocese in Vatican City. That's right, they never once attempted to contact me. My efforts at communication with them for any type update proved to be worthless.
I was becoming more infuriated with every second watching this news broadcast. I was ready to ask the bartender to change the channel. Just then the camera panned to a close up of the Pope's hands holding a Rosary. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Right there in living color broadcast to the entire world, there it was! On the Pope's left pinky finger was my grandfather's ring. The Pope was wearing my ring the same one I had lost years ago in the Basilica.
There was no mistaking what I was witnessing. As sure
as the Pope was Catholic, it was my ring!
