Poetry from Ri Hossain

We Haven’t Met Yet

We haven’t met yet,
We were supposed to go to war together;
Yet, you went to battle alone, becoming my very adversary.
Still, we haven’t met yet,
Because I never went to war.

A black cat blocked my path,
Facing the movement of the parrots,
I have withdrawn my weapons.
The sissoo trees have welcomed me into their fold—
Whose shadows fall even in the sun, like a drizzling rain.
There is no wailing in the sound of the wind,
Only the eternal friendship of sunlight, breeze, and leaves.
I am now with the fish, we do not have to go to war…

Even then, we are marked for slaughter…
Since we haven’t met yet,
You haven’t been able to kill me.
To destroy me, you are building heavy missiles,
Warplanes, even nuclear bombs;
While I am weaving a net of sky-blue dreams.

If we ever meet, I will give you the messages of the birds,
I will take flight with you like wild geese,
I will build nests on new islands;
If we ever meet, I will give you love.

We haven’t met yet;
You are searching for me to kill,
And I am searching for you to love.

Poetry from Virginia Aronson

All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins

Flight of Bones

The spell of the red flowers
in the nursery seeds planted
in World War Two Japan
in the afternoon shadow
of the Japanese Alps
in the personality shade
of a troubled family
a berating mother
sending the child to spy
on the playboy father
sexual obsession and fear
sitting side by side by
the smooth white river
stones, flowers speaking

of the war lingering
in the blackout factory
thinking of hanging
herself throwing herself
in front of a train
a shrink called her
a genius helped her
gain recognition
planning her escape
from self-obliteration
from endless revolving
in the infinity nets
the absoluteness
of reality
and unreality
a proliferation
of talking pumpkins
only to be reduced
to nothingness.

Yayoi Kusama grew up in a small mountain town west of Tokyo in a wealthy, high society family, owners of successful wholesale seed nurseries. As a child she had asthma and a partial hearing loss, and she suffered from hallucinations and periods of depersonalization. Her domineering mother forced her to spy on her father and his geishas, ripped up her artwork and tried to marry her off.

Infinity Nets

The Flower That Blooms In My Heart

Out in the purple fields
of flowering spring
the blossoms sprung
tiny individual faces
opened pistil mouths
to her, to the child
the violets spoke
chasing her back
to her mother’s house
of anger, fighting
and a pencil, paper
the art supplies
her father gave
her only escape.

Her spirit floated
from her little body
wandering the border
between life and death
a thin curtain of gray
like a personal cloud
shadowing the  girl
the young woman
bent over body
drawing, sketching
painting, creating
in a wild fever
born of desperation
reproducing endlessly
on the conveyor belt
to infinity, net
cast over her
life, art
her creed.

Paintbrush in hand
imagination overdrive
obsessions crawling
mind and body
working herself
away from madness
on an endless highway
of fear and visions
fleeing hallucinations
seeking obliteration
following the flowers
following red thread
on the path
to freedom
allowing her
to live.

Yayoi’s art has been called feminist. It’s been labeled pathological art brut, or outsider art. She doesn’t think it fits any category. She mixes East with West, realism with surrealism, hallucinations with humor and pathos. Her work is eclectic and electric and eccentric. It is her own, unique. 

The Scandal Queen of Japan

“Ultimately, behind the impulse to fight is the simple fact that men have penises.”

Repetitive Vision

Soft-sculpture figures
by the boatload
the couch load
the chair load
furniture obsessions
macaroni mannequins
overcoming fear
machine-made
naked polka dots
all the way
to her studio
across the street
her permanent residence
a psychiatric ward.

If it were not for art
I would have killed myself
a long time ago
before global fame
before legions of fans
her alter-ego pumpkin
black spots on a pier
of plastic and I’m here
but nothing
in Tokyo infinity
in mirrored rooms
dancing lights fly up
to the super-reality
to the unclothed universe
all together
in the altogether
the dissolution of self
via immersive obsessions
repetitions and intrusions
transporting us too
to another cosmos.

In the midst of the mid-century avant-garde art revolution, Kusama’s large scale paintings of nets and polka dots caught on. Critics called her work obsessional, austere, disturbing, and a tour de force. She expanded her work to include political theater, fashion design, and body art. Her clothes were sold in Bloomingdale’s, and she appeared on The Tonight Show. But in Japan she was a national disgrace and her family shamed.

Fire Burning in the Abyss

My Eternal Soul

The Manhattan suicide addict
starving, suffering
the vertigo of nothingness
crawling into cold hands
no heat, no bed, no money
the downtown den of resistance
a shimmering veil across reality
fate like a chorus of violets
launching her like a moonshot
into the bright eye of acclaim
crowds at galleries, museums
drawn to her strange beauty
blending personal revelations
bare-faced self-promotions
branding the self as product
art as fiery weapon:
Go live your shining life.

Back home in Japan
the castle of shed tears
a studio down the street
from the stark white room
at the soft sculpt loony bin
in the moon dot aftermath
of obliteration
of eternity
the world’s
most successful
living artist
transcending
female Asian identity
art genres and cataloging
unnecessary boundaries
barriers and structures
dancing swarms of fireflies
fly up and out
of this universe
showing the route
to full happiness
to spending
everyday
every day
embracing red flowers.

Yayoi believed that Japan had ostracized her for her mental illness. But she returned there after 17 years in the U.S, famous and successful and so ill she chose to live in an open ward of a Tokyo mental hospital for her own safety. In the 2000s, she collaborated with several brands to share her style including polka dot Cokes and pumpkin-like BMW Minis. She continues to create at age 97 and traveling retrospectives of her work still draw massive crowds.

Poetry from Emeniano Acain Somoza, Jr.

The Belfry of St. Vincent Ferrer

My heart bursts into a flock of ricebirds

Each time I hear its tolling; for years

I live on the shade of its imposing

Memory – all the running & screaming

& sliding races down the hillsides, firemaking

& pissing contests, toy parades, death by voodoo

Gossip-broker Miss B. & and her rare orchids

Tonio’s mysterious death at the mangrove –

All point me to that church on top of the hill

Overlooking our town wharf that eats

And spits natives & transients alike

Where all the coming and going each

Has its own distinct ring – tintinnabulations

Of open-ended declarations, promises, affairs –

Gangrenous goodbyes on the breast of tears smothered

Or the corrosive taste of briny eyes with every furtive hello.

But time has done nothing to exempt the heart from

The onslaught of raging waves crushing into

Empty shores –like the old bell ringing

Through my ears at Angelus –

Dusk, our favorite time of day

Before you left without that anticipated

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” backward glance.

And bells do not have a memory of tunes 

For awkward silence, silence, silence.

:

Nominated for “Best of the Net 2025” for his poetry, Emeniano Acain Somoza, Jr. considers himself the official spiritual advisor of his roommates, Gordot and Dwight – the first a goldfish, the other a Turkish Van cat. His works have been published in The Poetry Magazine, Moria Poetry Journal, Fogged Clarity, Everyday Poem, Loch Raven Review, The Buddhist Poetry Review, The Philippine Graphic, The Philippines Free Press, Troubadour 21, Full of Crow, Indigo Rising, Asia Writes, Triggerfish Critical Review, Troubadors 21, Gloom Cupboard, TAYO, Haggard & Halloo, and elsewhere. His first book, A Fistful of Moonbeams, was published by Kilmog Press in April 2010. His second, Kleenex Theory, published by Createspace-Amazon, came out in 2015. He is busy anthologizing emptiness and boredom at the moment.

Poetry from Wan Yilong

About Wan Yilong 

High-Dimensional Wisdom Mentor / High-Dimensional Spiritual Poet / Inheritor of Dongba Culture  / Master of Traditional Chinese Culture / Great Master of World Multiculturalism /  Donor and Founder, Dean of Yulong Wenbi Dongba Culture Academy / Dean of Aming Gaotu High-Dimensional Wisdom Academy / Philanthropist

Beyond the Firmament

(Homeward Chapter)

Poem By Wan Yilong

Translated By Lan Xin

YIMI4372--

When the morning star rises in the east

In the starry sky hang countless sorrowful eyes

I open my wisdom eyes and gaze

Beyond the galaxy tears have long been pouring

I whisper to the universe what happened

She unfolds a picture before me

Countless mechs overturn heaven and earth

Countless planets burn with raging war

Myriad races slaughter each other

Billions of lives wither in strife

Ruined walls and fragments turn to glaze

Dead planets only cold iron shadows remain

Surviving star people struggle to forage in black water

All I see is rotten bones

Hungry rushing here and there

Mutated beasts no longer fit to eat

They hunt in packs spread plague

Despair spreads silently in the dust

Desperate beings pray to heaven

A voice echoes slowly

We have stored food

When rows of dark caves are opened

Out step

Men women and children in swaddling clothes

All gasp in astonishment is this our food

The voice replies

They are our clones

I close my eyes in sorrow

The universe whispers admonition

All beings must awake

Every life is a child of the universe

Every soul yearns for ascension

Dark technology will eventually turn on itself

Cold power only destroys life

We are all brothers born of the same womb

Without love there is no universe

Without compassion even destruction cannot be reborn

Love and compassion are the eternal themes of the universe

With this thought even in purgatory

We can be reborn

That scene is the universe’s past

And also the mirror of the future

Mother universe is calling out

Wake up

Greed confuses the eyes

Souls sink in delusion

Love and hate are self-imposed barriers

Greed anger delusion are the cages of the heart

Every planet can be a cage for the heart

Everybody can be a dojo for awakening

Look within you are complete

Every soul yearns for light

Compassion can break the curse of all dark technology

Souls will ultimately live forever at the source of the universe

The ultimate civilization of the world is about to begin

Its name is universal harmony

We come from eternity rush to this moment

Only to wake up the sleeping beings

Live in the present change the past determine the future

The past and the future are but a single thought

I wake slowly from meditation

The morning sun illuminates the mountains and rivers and every heart

From now on I have no choice but to move forward

This is my fate

Is also your fate

And even more the common fate of all beings

Technology must ultimately serve the ascension of souls

Footnote

Taking homecoming as its central metaphor, this poem lays bare the absurdity and spiritual awakening of an age dominated by technology. Mechs and warfare, cloning and alienation unfold in layered progression, striking straight to the spiritual predicament of modern society. Breaking free from linear narrative, it employs vivid visual metaphors and interior monologue to explore the eternal themes of love and redemption, selfhood and the mirrored self. The fate and awakening revealed at its close represent the homecoming not only of the individual, but of all sentient beings.

Poetry from Ag Davis

Note on this poem’s process, from poet AG Davis:
Gathering info/data then intuitively applying to matrices that intertwine and reconfigure yet relate on multiple levels of dimensionality. however, these matrices can be read linearly, or reinforced in any manner the reader chooses: my theory is that there should be at the very least resonance/or purely mental vibrance with the words themselves; that although not direct sometimes in apparent semantic content, there is still some para-semantic content, or ur-semantic content that will ‘stick” to make a ”meaning” ”ravel”. 

Poem

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Poetry from Stephen Jarrell Williams

Left Alone

He was left

alone

never knowing

his mother and father

growing up

in the overhang

of dark dreams

like so many others

not understanding

the why

of conflicts

and war after war

killing

the tree

the sea

and the sky

above babies.

Stone Flower

Almost

a stone flower

lit by sun and moon

she is

almost

unfeeling

her heart

breaking

waiting

for someone

with the touch of love.

Shock Treatment

Shock treatment

no more

wars

on earth

or beyond.

Essay from Choriyeva Oynur

Uzbek State World Language University, Faculty of English Philology, 2nd-year student

The Role of Sleep in Academic Performance

Choriyeva Oynur

Uzbek State World Languages University, Faculty of English Philology

2nd-year Student

Abstract

This article examines the important role of sleep in academic performance. It demonstrates how adequate and quality sleep can enhance memory, improve focus and concentration, and support cognitive functions such as problem-solving and critical thinking. It also highlights that insufficient sleep can reduce memory recall, decrease attention, worsen academic performance, lower grades, and reduce productivity. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the importance of obtaining sufficient, regular, and high-quality sleep for effective studying.

Keywords: sleep, academic performance, memory, attention, cognitive functions, reading, productivity, student health, effective studying, overall quality of life

Introduction

Sleep plays a vital role in student health and academic success. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health, adequate sleep is essential for physical health, mental clarity, and overall quality of life, especially for young people. During Student Sleep Health Week, the Indian Board of Education provides resources and recommendations on the relationship between deep sleep and success.

The CDC emphasizes that sleep is crucial for memory consolidation, learning, and cognitive functioning. Students who do not get enough sleep struggle with concentration, problem-solving, and remembering information. This can negatively affect their academic results, lower their grades, and reduce productivity.

Leslie L. Crow, a licensed professional counselor and specialist in BIE’s Student Behavioral Health Program, notes that sleep significantly impacts students’ academic and athletic performance.

“Healthy sleep habits greatly affect the mental and physical health of children and adults,” Crow states. “Sleep influences our emotions, stress management, and overall well-being.”

Main Body

Sleep is essential for cognitive functions as well as overall physical and mental health. According to the CDC, insufficient sleep is associated with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions. For students, lack of sleep can lead to reduced energy levels and greater susceptibility to illness, preventing full participation in academic and extracurricular activities.

The two most common consequences of insufficient sleep are decreased focus and impaired memory. These effects are not only harmful individually but also compound each other. Lack of focus results in incomplete information retention, which is further compounded by inadequate neural connections formed during learning.

Insufficient sleep can reduce both short-term and long-term memory. Short-term memory retains information briefly, such as remembering someone’s name upon meeting them or recalling the last few words on a fast-changing PowerPoint slide. Long-term memory involves retaining information for hours, days, months, or longer, such as remembering due dates or recalling past events. Students struggling with sleep-related stress over classes may benefit from seeking tutoring to improve mastery of the subject.

Leslie L. Crow emphasizes the importance of understanding recommended sleep durations for different age groups. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, while younger school-aged children require approximately 9 to 11 hours within 24 hours. Crow notes that many behavioral and mental health issues, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, and difficulties in emotional regulation, may be partially or entirely caused by sleep disorders.

To address these challenges, the CDC recommends maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends, to regulate internal biological clocks. Additionally, creating a sleep-friendly environment—keeping the bedroom dark, quiet, and cool—can significantly enhance sleep quality.

Crow also provides practical tips to improve sleep:

Go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day.

Maintain a consistent bedtime routine.

Use the bed only for sleep.

Spend time outdoors to get sunlight and engage in physical activity.

Avoid screen time before bedtime.

Model healthy sleep habits for students.

Consult a medical professional if sleep problems persist.

By prioritizing sleep, students can improve academic performance, enhance physical and mental well-being, and establish habits that contribute to long-term success. Student Sleep Health Week serves as a vital reminder that adequate sleep is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

Conclusion

There are multiple ways to measure the relationship between sleep and academic performance. Much of the earlier research focused on sleep duration and sleep quality, with mixed results. These measures have limitations—sleep duration is usually self-reported, and sleep quality is subjective. Recently, novel measures of sleep have emerged. The timing and consistency of sleep may have the greatest impact on academic performance.

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721815000157⁠�

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079216000228⁠�

South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, April 2025

Idaho State University College of Business, Business Administration, 921 South 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID 83209