Poetry from Marjona Xushvaqtova

Central Asian teen girls in white collared school uniform shirts and long dark braided hair standing in a line next to each other. The author of this piece is in the middle facing the camera.
Spring!

We waited for you when we were children,
We used to run down the hill,
Blue-green grass is the strangest corner,
Bud reminded you today.

We would build a tent out of grass,
What a hero Clouds was.
We made wreaths, beautiful,
Your beauty was also a gem.

When I think about it, I don't appreciate you. 
I will not laugh with you when the time comes.
I didn't become your daughter, Marjon, 
I don't feel you com, spring...

Spring...

Marjonabanu Khushvaktova was born on June 13, 2004 in Kokdala district of Kashkadarya region. Currently, she is a 2nd year student of Shahrisabz State Pedagogical Institute. Her creative works are in “Taloktepa tolei” , “Taloktepa tolei” selection book and “The smart youth of Uzbekistan”, “Raven Cage Zine”, “Page 3 News”, “Youth of Uzbekistan” “Yoshlar bayozi” and has been published in many international books, magazines, newspapers and anthologies, and is the owner of many diplomas and certificates.

Poetry from Orinbayeva Dildara

Central Asian teen girl with dark hair and a white beaded headband and a white collared shirt and dark sweater.

From happiness

I thought that poems would end with happiness,

It’s candlelight, it’s dark.

I couldn’t write poems because of happiness,

The candle burned in vain.

I thought that poems would end with happiness,

Every word is from love.

I write poetry, I have not broken my promise

But from the hatred that I have in my heart. 

I thought that poems would end with happiness,

Like Layla,

My prince is even stranger than Majnun,

I don’t know why I am happy.

My life is a simple tale,

Not ordinary, not even a fairy tale 

I have pain, grave heart,

Poetry is my comfort.

I’m patient as a poet,

I burn, I get tired, I don’t die.

The world is now on fire.

I will answer as a candle.

Orinbayeva Dildara was born on March 10, 2008 in Tortkol district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.  9th grade student of school No. 24 of Tortkol district.  He reads with excellent grades and is the captain of the Youth Union of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He has organized many events.  She is a talented writer whose poems have been published.  The poem “Loyalty” was published in the “Korparcha Collection”.  The article “INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT BIOLOGY.” was published in the International Anthology of Blue Sky Stars. The poem “Rain” was published and indexed on Google sites.  The poem “Ozligim Anglab” was published in “Future Scholars Creative Collection” and “Book, Certificate, Diploma.”  He became the owner.  Holder of international certificates.

Poetry by Alexander Faynberg, translated to English by Shukurillayeva Lazzatoy

Young Central Asian woman with a black coat with white embroidery standing in a roomful of people and flags.

ALEXANDER ARKADYEVICH FEINBERG 

If you wander lost in the darkest night,

Do not despair at the cruel and bitter weather.

For darkness never lasts as your sole companion,

There’s a fire burning, flickering in the distance.

This fire, as you roam, lost and weary,

Will give you warmth and kindness, freely offered.

Your hope and faith will surely return,

For fortune never turns its back forever.

If the biting wind extinguishes the flame,

And you suddenly find yourself back in the dark,

The last resort is a simple act –

Stop, and kindle a bonfire without delay.

Carefully strike a match in your hand,

Prepare to light a fire, drawing on your tobacco.

In the pathless wilderness, ignite a bonfire, start a blaze,

Become a fire yourself for someone in need.

Translation by Shukurilloyeva Lazzatoy

Poetry from Kathleen Hellen

spin the attraction


I believed it when you said: 
“Stay away from Okies.” 
“Stay away from swabbies busting bottles off the rail.” 
“Don’t bug Carlos.”  

Tonight the perseids will glitter for an hour, 
sputter. disappear.

I believed it when you said 
you’d find a job tomorrow. 





everybody’s falling 


Sure, my palms were sweating. The way she smiled at you, the way she took your hand and placed it on her hip. The way you drifted from the orbit of relationship. This is how it works, right? One stacked in the warp and reeling. The other standing still. 




Kathleen Hellen is the recipient of prizes from the H.O.W. Journal and Washington Square Review. Her debut collection Umberto’s Night won the poetry prize from Washington Writers’ Publishing House. Featured on Poetry Daily and Verse Daily, Hellen’s work has been nominated multiple times for Best of the Net, the Pushcart and recently Best American Short Stories. She is the author of The Only Country Was the Color of My Skin, Meet Me at the Bottom, and two chapbooks.She lives in Baltimore.

Poetry from Nilufar Anvarova

Central Asian teen girl in a blue skirt and white top with long dark hair.

Village morning

Morning, the spring's canopy shutter,
The heart is ready for the feeling of purity.
Simple people, simple people,
The bag turns the black heart into colors.

I'm satisfied with sincere tunes today,
The sound of the swallow decorates my heart.
Walking in the city streets, I found out that
The value of such stones is like a stone.

By a rightful mistake of fate,
I'm in love with basil today.
That another place is like this,
Majnuntol, you didn't say, why didn't you say.

My magical world with moving walls,
The rooster crows in the early morning.
After all, you are honest, you are wonderful,
The rustling of trees, the dawn of my village!

Nilufar Anvarova, a student of the 8th grade of the creative school named after Erkin Vahidov, Margylan city.

Poetry from Taylor Dibbert

The Royalties

He’s looking through

The 2024 tax form

That documents 

The royalties

From his first book

It’s been a while 

Since the book 

Was released 

And he hasn’t

Thought about sales

In a long time

He made less than

Ten bucks

Last year

Obviously he’s 

An underground favorite

Poised for posthumous fame.

Taylor Dibbert is a poet in Washington, DC. He’s author of, most recently, “Takoma.”