Poetry from Bruce Roberts

Wacky New Year to You!

Wham, bam, slam,

Right to the jaw,

Left to the gut,

Wild haymaker and

Bloody New Years nose,

            It’s Peru,

And fist fight catharsis

Clears the air

            For the next 365 days!

Somewhere in history,

Some anonymous genius

            Noticed seasons,

            The cycles of seasons,

And dubbed each

            A year—

 A measurement

            For our lives.

With that,

World-wide imagination

            Kicked in:

Old year, new year;

New year, future;

            New year, hope!

Tradition!

                        Party!

And so the Irish throw

            Bread against walls,

Ecuador burns scarecrows–

            And photos,

Japan smiles, ringing bells

            108 times.

The Swiss drop ice cream,

Thais throw water buckets,

The French eat pancakes,

Russians plant tree trunks

At the bottom

                        of frozen lakes.

Colombians lug

                        Empty suitcases,                

Brazilians jump seven waves,

Estonians eat seven meals,

While Danes hurl

                        Plates and pottery

            At friends’ front doors.

The Brits’ “First Footing”

Welcomes a dark-haired man

            Bearing midnight gifts,

Crazy Scots swing sticks

Stuck to blazing fireballs,

While in the Philippines,

            And Mexico,

All change underwear—

            White for peace,

            Gold for wealth,

Red, of course, for love

            In the new, new year!

Yet in America,

            We keep it simple:

Remember Dick Clark,

                        Watch a ball drop, Kiss.

Then sing Auld Lang Syne

            At the top of our lungs,

Raise many a cup o’ kindness,

Leave our undies

                        Publicly in place,

And have

                        A Happy New Year!

                        Bruce Roberts

            2015— New Years Eve

                                                                                                                        36                             

Chinese Youth Poetry Project

Child's drawing of a cloud with pink cheeks, rain and wind, and green and blue-green trees and grass and some fern-like plants.
Child's drawing of a rooster with a comb, a rising sun, and distant blue hills. Also a cloud, rain, and a lion.
Tiny brown bird on a twig, leaves flying, and a lily pad on a pond with some fish and a beach chair on a sunny day. Dragonfly in the air.

1. 风的家‖张天岳(毓秀小学)

风的家在田野里,

风一回家,

稻谷们就开心地左摇右摆。

风的家在森林里,

风一回家,

大树们就规规矩矩地鞠躬。

 1. The Wind’s Home ‖ Zhang Tianyue (Yuxiu Primary School)

The wind’s home is in the fields;

When the wind comes home,

The rice plants sway happily left and right.

The wind’s home is in the forest;

When the wind comes home,

The big trees bow politely one by one.

2. 夜深了‖辛婉怡(毓秀小学)

夜深了

大地也安静下来了

听,虫儿在唱歌

看,星星在眨眼

闻,花儿在暗暗飘香

夜深了

小宝贝听着歌谣

沉沉地睡去了

只留下妈妈

在台灯下织毛衣的身影

 2. Night Falls ‖ Xin Wanyi (Yuxiu Primary School)

Night falls,

The earth calms down too.

Listen, the insects are singing;

Look, the stars are blinking;

Smell, the flowers are quietly fragrant.

Night falls,

The little baby listens to lullabies,

Falls into a deep sleep.

Only Mom remains,

Her figure knitting sweaters by the desk lamp.

3. 梦想‖侯峻熙(毓秀小学)

梦想在世界跑来跑去

像奔跑的运动员

一路来来回回穿梭

一直到成功的尽头

 3. Dream ‖ Hou Junxi (Yuxiu Primary School)

Dreams run around the world,

Like running athletes,

Shuttling back and forth all the way,

Until the end of success.

4. 风弟弟‖侯峻熙(毓秀小学)

顽皮的风弟弟

吹倒了妈妈的花瓶

里面满满的幸福和温暖

都洒满了整个世界

 4. Little Brother Wind ‖ Hou Junxi (Yuxiu Primary School)

Naughty Little Brother Wind

Knocked over Mom’s vase.

The full happiness and warmth inside

Spilled all over the world.

5. 时间‖裴熙月(毓秀小学)

时间

是一只可爱的小白兔

它在岁月的长河里奔跑

我一回头

它已经跑远了

时间

是一列行驶的火车

我还没来得及看风景

它已经开到下一个站台

5. Time ‖ Pei Xiyue (Yuxiu Primary School)

Time

Is a cute little white rabbit.

It runs in the long river of years;

When I turn back,

It has already run far away.

Time

Is a moving train.

Before I can enjoy the scenery,

It has arrived at the next platform.

6. 星星的学校

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 吉柯冉 9岁

星星的学校

在月亮住的地方

他们有一群一群的伙伴

月亮老师有时教写字

有时教算数

有时教唱歌

他们拍拍小手放学了

太阳公公

把他们接回家

关上门做功课

 6. The Stars’ School

Ji Keran, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

The stars’ school

is where the moon lives.

They have groups of friends.

Teacher Moon sometimes teaches writing,

sometimes math,

sometimes singing.

They clap their little hands and finish school.

Grandpa Sun

comes to take them home,

and they close the door to do their homework.

7. 翘起的头发

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 刘怡杉 9岁

头发和发圈吵架了

发圈一扎头发

头发就生气地跑开

生气了还不好哄

小嘴巴撅得高高的

 7. The Sticking-Up Hair

Liu Yishan, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Hair and the hair tie had a fight.

As soon as the hair tie tries to hold the hair,

the hair runs away in anger.

Once angry, it’s hard to soothe—

it pouts its little “mouth” high up.

8. 雪的朋友

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 张家行 9岁

雪和北风

是一对好朋友

雪一下

风就吹

他们飘来飘去

闹着玩

小朋友也是

雪的好朋友

雪一下

小朋友就笑

打雪仗

堆雪人

扔雪球

 8. Snow’s Friends

Zhang Jiaxing, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Snow and the north wind

are good friends.

When snow falls,

the wind blows.

They drift around,

playing tricks.

Children are also

snow’s good friends.

When snow falls,

children laugh,

having snowball fights,

building snowmen,

throwing snowballs.

9. 小草的学校

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛若彤 9岁

春天教小草们长高

淋几滴春雨

他们长得更高了

春风走过

小草们开始跳舞、狂欢

春天老师躲在天空的云朵上

看着他们上自习

 9. The Grass’s School

Xue Ruotong, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Spring teaches the grass to grow tall.

A few drops of spring rain,

and they grow even taller.

When the spring wind passes by,

the grass starts dancing and celebrating wildly.

Teacher Spring hides in the clouds in the sky,

watching them study on their own.

10. 春天的闹钟

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛家硕 9岁

春天来了

我还在梦中

美丽的花悄悄地开了

小蜜蜂飞到花上

用它的小手拨弄着花钟

滴答滴答

我被春天的闹钟吵醒了

 10. Spring’s Alarm Clock

Xue Jiashuo, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Spring has come,

but I’m still in my dream.

Beautiful flowers bloom quietly.

Little bees fly to the flowers,

tinkering with the flower clocks with their little hands.

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

I’m woken up by spring’s alarm clock.

11. 棉花糖

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 裴晨宇 9岁

冬天在吆喝

棉花糖,棉花糖

我跑出去

舔了一大口

凉凉的棉花糖在胃里

甜甜地抱住我

11. Cotton Candy

Pei Chenyu, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Winter is shouting,

“Cotton candy! Cotton candy!”

I run outside

and take a big lick.

The cold cotton candy is in my stomach,

hugging me sweetly.

12. 云朵

河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 李忆佳 9岁

云朵伤心了

哗哗哗

眼泪直掉

太阳跑出来安慰它

给它变出一个彩虹

云朵开心地笑了

12. Clouds

Li Yijia, 9, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

The cloud is sad—

whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,

tears keep falling.

The sun runs out to comfort it,

making a rainbow for it.

The cloud smiles happily.

Essay from Aziza Xasanova

Young Central Asian woman with an embroidered headdress, dark straight hair up in a bun, brown eyes, a black coat, white collared shirt, and a black and yellow tie.

You Are Not on a Doomed Ship

We humans encounter different problems every single day. Sometimes these problems last long, and sometimes they pass as quickly as opening and closing our eyes. At times, they weigh heavily on our souls, bend our backs, wound our hearts, and remain carved into the pages of our memory. When unfulfilled dreams press on your chest and things don’t work out despite all your efforts—don’t fall into despair. You are not on the Titanic. Your life continues, and you are still alive.

The people who boarded the Titanic had everything—wealth, possessions—but they lacked one thing: luck. Look, you are the lucky one. You can stand up again; you can try again. Because just as the moonlight you see during the tahajjud prayer soon gives way to the dawn prayer, and then to the warm golden rays of the rising sun, every problem finds its solution in its own time. No effort goes without a result—every action brings a consequence.

Never forget this: you are the lucky one who didn’t get on the doomed ship. That means you still have plenty of reasons and goals to live for. Life is colorful—don’t see it only in black and white. Hold on to the wings of hope. Praise your Lord, because out of 8 billion people, He chose you for this test. Then you will see what true victory really means.

What matters is that you do not let your spirit drown. Just as you clean the dust in your home, cleanse your soul from sorrow. Wipe your tears, stand up, and keep trying again and again. Because you—and only you—have the power to change your own life. Don’t listen to the noise around you; people’s words will never stop anyway.

I know—sometimes you feel like you don’t fit in this world at all. Tears fill your eyes, you want to give up on everything, leave everyone, and run away to a quiet, secluded place.

My dear, who is precious to me, these problems may seem endless to you. Surely, at some point, you expected comfort or help from someone. Maybe you waited for a person who would tell you, “Everything will be okay” on your hardest day. If you are reading my words now, believe me: not receiving comfort on your hard day was actually a blessing for you. Step out of the desert of despair.

Every step you walked alone—didn’t it make you stronger and more determined? When you fell, didn’t you lift your head and rise on your own without anyone’s help? You may not realize it, but I know that people around you admire you.

When nothing seems to work and your strength is fading, remember my words: “Helplessness is the greatest test sent by God.” And that means victory is near. Don’t rebel. Wipe away those pearl-like tears. One day, those tears will fall not for defeat, but for happiness, my dear.

The important thing is not to remain where you fell. Fulfill the dreams hidden in your heart—don’t let them turn into regrets. My dear, the person who knows you better than anyone… is you..

Xasanova Aziza Kumushbek qizi, student at Tashkent Economics and Pedagogy University

Eva Petropoulou Lianou interviews Dr. Reda Abdel Rahim

Dr. Reda Abdel Rahim 

Middle aged Egyptian man with a jean jacket over a blue tee shirt. He's got reading glasses and stands in front of a rock with an ancient carving.

Inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Interview conducted by Eva Petropoulou Lianou 

Good morning Doctor. It will be an honour to have you in our magazine.

Could you please tell us about yourself?

I work as an inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. I write critical articles in the fields of fiction and theater. I have published five books. Five new books will be published soon.

When did archaeology come to life for you? What inspired you?

Archaeology is the science of searching for the roots of man, just as myth was the childhood of history. The knowledge of how ancient man lived shows us how mankind has evolved over successive eras. He who has no past has no future.

What was the most important moment for you?

The most important moment in my life was the discovery of tombs of senior officials from the 21st dynasty in the archaeological area of Saqqara with the Tasik expedition headed by Czech Egyptologist Jaroslav Barta in 2008. My visit was also accompanied by an exhibition of the effects of pyramid builders in Tokyo 2015, one of the most beautiful moments in my life as well.

Two middle aged men survey an archaeological site in the desert on a sunny but hazy day. Both are in jackets and white scarves. Rocks nearby are stacked into structures.

Why should people visit the museum?

Museums are houses of memory ..If you want to know the history of a whole civilization that was as important as the Egyptian Kings,  you should visit the museum, but if you want to know its present, you should definitely visit this country.

What is your wish for 2026?

I hope that in 2026 I will travel, work and live in Greece. The state and the people are psychologically and socially closer to the Egyptian people.

Essay from Lolaxon Sodiqxonova

Young Central Asian woman in a black coat and suit standing in front of a Power Point illustration with text about her organization, Girls Hub.

Empowered Women Empower Women

Women’s empowerment is the process by which women become aware of gender-based unequal power relationships and acquire a greater voice in which to speak out against the inequality found in the home, workplace, and community. An empowered woman not only changes her life but also uplifts her family and contributes to society. Though millions of women worldwide are still denied education — a reality that limits not only their potential but also their societies. 

Today women empowerment plays a vital role in societies. From economic growth to social stability, the benefits of empowering women reverberate across every aspect of society. One of the most compelling reasons to empower women is its direct correlation with economic prosperity. When women are empowered with education, access to resources, opportunities, entire economies flourish. According to studies, investing women’s empowerment leads to increase in productivity and growth of a country.

Additionally, women’s empowerment is crucial for gender equality and discrimination. Despite the actions taken in this, still women around the world are facing barriers in education, violence, disdain and rights. Empowering women means challenging entrenched norms and stereotypes that perpetuate gender inequality. It involves creating inclusive policies, providing access to justice, and promoting women’s leadership at all levels of society. All in all, women empowerment takes the important part in all fields – healthcare, economics, education, industry.

Despite clear progress, numerous obstacles continue to restrict women’s equal access to education and empowerment.

Cultural expectations, early marriage, limited resources and gender stereotypes still restrict girls’ choices and ambition. To combat this, organisations such as Women In Tech and the PORLA project are enhancing women’s employability and promoting entrepreneurial skills across remote and traditionally underserved areas. Likewise, the establishment of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Council in March 2025 under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry aims to boost legal, financial and practical support for female entrepreneurs. 

On a personal level, as a high-school student I co-founded Girls Hub, which has supported over 50 Afghan girls and is now collaborating with Nigerian peers hoping that change begins with young women taking leadership in education and solidarity.

If we truly believe that empowered women empower others, then education is the gateway to transformation. From the classrooms of Uzbekistan to global networks connecting Afghan and Nigerian girls, every investment in a young woman’s learning creates exponential returns for families, communities and nations. My journey with Girls Hub, standing alongside students who face barriers and believing in their potential, reminds me that real change comes from shared purpose, courageous action and unrelenting hope. Let us commit to policies that dismantle stereotypes, resources that expand access, and mentorship that lifts every girl toward her fullest future. Because when a woman learns, we all grow.

I am Lolaxon Sodiqxonova, a 17-year-old senior at the Specialized Boarding School in Namangan, Uzbekistan. I am passionate about empowering women and have already taken several actions toward this goal. For example, I worked as the Head Ambassador of the PORLA project, which educates women and girls on AI tools and STEM, even providing opportunities for internships. This sparked my interest in women’s empowerment and encouraged me to co-found Girls Hub, a global platform mentoring young women on scholarships, languages, and some aspects of STEM. Today, Girls Hub has two international collaborations and more than 100 alumni. Moreover, I entered the world of start-ups with this project and became the winner of the Digital Generation Girls – Start-Ups Competition. My dedication to this field also led me to success in a prestigious international program—the Women2Women International Leadership Program, hosted by Emerson College and held at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Essay from Dr. Jernail Singh

Older South Asian man with a white beard and mustache and gray turban and coat and brown tie and white shirt seated at a desk with papers and a computer.

STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL AND THE INSTINCT FOR ‘GIVE AWAY’

When from a liquid, a drop is formed, it is trapped into the struggle for survival. Its shape depends on how much the  winds press its sides, and how much the light sucks its vitality. The moment it is formed, the eternal countdown begins, and then, as the day passes, a part of it is lived out. Finally, a moment arrives, when winds suck it back.

The sun and the night, the moon and the stars, the oceans and the mountains – they saw it form, flourish, and then finish. When we see this bubble, this drop, this human being, he is in the throes of a struggle, the wise call the struggle for survival.  

When man is born, he too resembles a drop of life, and it is not difficult to see how this struggle for survival has started in the womb itself. Parents try to soften the pangs of this struggle in the initial years, but as soon as a child grows up, his march to adulthood is marked with pitfalls and boobytraps, and this struggle continues through the adult years, right up to the time he reaches the ventilator, the launch pad from where, hollow-copters  fly on a journey into the unknown. 

All through this life, the man was trying to stay alive and he did not mind this struggle which left him alive although so many lost their lives. The first and foremost thing for man is to preserve his life. Once he is secure in his body, mind and soul, he starts thinking of embellishments which make  life beautiful. Art steps in, music steps in. Love steps in. It is now a paradigm of passions.

Just think of a journey in a plane. When the plane runs on the runway, and takes the dive up, our hearts sink. That is the initial shock we experience. But as it gains its speed, and becomes stable, we forget we are on a mission of do or die. The hostesses make you oblivious of the perils of the journey with their offer of drinks, food etc. In a few moments, the feeling of danger passes, and we start thinking of our life, some open their laps tops. Some go to sleep. The feeling of struggle will return when the plane lands, because, that too is a moment fraught with danger. 

The idea is the struggle for survival is the basic instinct of man, and it remains with him all through. The question in the struggle for survival is when the idea of ‘how’ steps in. To keep alive is the first instinct, and this is animal instinct, the minimal, and the basest. We begin with this instinct. No doubt, throughout life, we have to keep alive till we reach the launch-pad, are we in the survival mode all through?

Can this instinct describe man in his entirety? I think, No. As soon as man acquires a sense of stability, he starts thinking of values, and the quality of his conduct in life. The focus shifts from the body to the mind and we are confronted with higher truths of life.

Existence is the essential truth  but adding value to it is no less.  I met a childhood friend who had retired from civil services. He held one grouse and it was against himself. He earned money, had a great going in his life, but what he has left behind? We, who believe in struggle for survival, also believe in the idea of a ‘take away’ from this struggle.

But, a time comes when we start thinking, was there any ‘give away’ also? 

Dr. Jernail Singh Anand, with an opus of 180 plus books, is Laureate of the Seneca, Charter of Morava, Franz Kafka and Maxim Gorky awards.  His name adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. Anand’s work  embodies a rare fusion of creativity, intellect, and moral vision.

Poetry from Gabriel Bates

Young white man smoking a cigarette. He's got curly black hair and a baseball cap and a plaid shirt with buttons over a shirt with some design on it. He's at a gas station on a sunny day and is holding blue hydrangeas.

Sorry for What I Said While I Was on Salvia

I took a big hit from the bong,

coughed hard

through a cloud of smoke,

and sat back on the couch.

I looked around and noticed

that the living room

was expanding and shrinking.

Then I started to get paranoid

and thought that the TV

was ordering me to do things.

At some point during the trip,

I must’ve said something

my girlfriend didn’t like

because she ended up

getting upset with me.

But what can I say?

It wasn’t me talking,

it was the drugs. 

°

Drunk on Peach Wine at the Christmas Party

And I’m having

a pretty good time.

I laugh and smile

after opening the microwave

my mother-in-law got us.

But something else

is on my mind.

There’s always something else

on my mind.

So I take another sip

from my glass

and try to forget about it.

Gabriel Bates is a poet living in Pittsburg, Kansas. His work has appeared in many different publications. Visit his website at tinylogger.com/gabrieljbates.