NIGHT AND DAY

The moon and I
spend our nights
on fish and tequila.

Then dawn comes on
with welcome
oranges in her basket.

At times like this
we cherish
the gifts of our healers

and yet recall
how eager
once for a casket. 


WHAT WANTON 

Which village chemist took us from his shelf
and mixed us with his pestle,
     put us in pots,
and sold us to customers with their milk?
(they took us with cereal
     and died in knots)

And which astrologer played with ourselves
his odd game of celestial
     connect-the-dots?
(he made the moon turn the tides into whales
against glittery crystal
     chandelier yachts)


DOWSER

Once I was proudly regarded
as the foremost geographer of You:
I surveyed the careful topography
as I mapped your features anew,
measured each promontory encountered,
and charted every defile.

Many times had I plumbed for your treasures
and glad had continued my earthy research.
And I knew I could move
my stretched willow out
to discover the sweet waters below.

But now that I live in exile from You,
now that your landscape has gone,
I find it was not your true geomancy I'd learned.
For though I'm sure that it was your well I discerned,
I never divined the source.



FIX

Not by any charms or karma.
We all are ruled by lips and arms.
The best arms are keep under sleeve,
phantom limbs we almost believe.
Lips must be always in action:
proclamations propaganda
posters slogans podcasts broadsides
downloads headlines broadcasts soundbites
to entertain alarm arouse
justify distract and excuse.
Terrorists! Fascists! Immigrants
Steal Our Land Our Jobs Our Women!
Innies! Outies! Leftists1 Righties!
Liberals! Mobs! Neo Nazis!
Prosperity Or Poverty!
Our Freedom Or Our Slavery!
Criminals! Our Open Borders!
Infidels! Monarchists! Trade War!
Stolen Elections! Deviants!
Antisemites! Spies! Jacobins!
Family Values! Lies! Misfits!
Epidemics! Nuclear Threats!
Divine Order! Thieves! Bolsheviks!
And thus we’re judased by a fix.



BADGES

Wedged within your fresh crotch --
this now is all I own.

The pasts are buried bones, arrowheads, broken pots that belonged to other lovers, to lost cultures.
Wastelands conceal the nests
of their long-gone futures.

Keen time dines on butchers’ scraps as well as sweet breasts.
Their pasts are buried bones.
This now is all I own.

Calms punctuate the storms
that chart activity.
We were not and won’t be.

Lover – to this culture we belong, not others.
Hedges and not bridges
demarcate these towers.
It’s not in our power to swap campaign badges that chart activities.
We were not.
We won’t be.

POEM: HER LOVE 
I .  I lost my beauty for the harsh time of my youth,
Yearned to rare it for my name after demise,
She didn’t aid me to preserve my beauty.
She longed to preserve hers that would be mine too – 
For this she did like me but alas! my harsh time…..
I had to bear it alone, 
Her love was for my summer when fall reigned me.

2. THE LOST DREAM
The lost dream, I dreamt again,
Couldn’t fulfil it, oh! it caused pain.
Its beauty was not altered a bit,
Not even my desire for it.
I dreamt it again but untimely.
 I could only cry helplessly.
My cry and sigh it could hear,
Though it yearned, it wasn’t fair 
For it to be the dream of mine again 
As like me, him it would cause pain 



Shafkat Aziz Hajam is a Indian in Kashmir. He is a poet, reviewer and co-author. He is the author of a children's poetry book titled as The Cuckoo’s Voice and one adult poetry book titled The Unknown Wounded Heart. 
His poems have appeared in international magazines, anthologies and journals like Inner Child Press International USA, AZAHAR anthology Spain, SAARC anthology, Litlight literary magazine Pakistan, PLOTS CREATIVES online literary magazine in the USA, Prodigy and other digital literary magazines in the USA etc. 

The Power of Motivation

Motivation is the driving force behind our actions, decisions, and goals. It is the spark that ignites our desire to achieve and the fuel that keeps us moving forward, even in the face of challenges and setbacks. Understanding the importance of motivation can help us harness its power to reach our full potential.

At its core, motivation is about finding a reason to act. This reason can be intrinsic, coming from within ourselves, such as a personal passion or a sense of accomplishment. It can also be extrinsic, driven by external factors like rewards, recognition, or the desire to avoid negative consequences. Both types of motivation are valuable, and often, they work together to push us towards our goals.

One of the key components of effective motivation is setting clear, achievable goals. When we know what we want to achieve, we can focus our efforts and create a roadmap to get there. Goals provide direction and purpose, making it easier to stay motivated over the long term. Additionally, breaking larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks can help maintain a sense of progress and prevent feeling overwhelmed.

Another important aspect of motivation is maintaining a positive mindset. Believing in our abilities and staying optimistic can significantly impact our motivation levels. Positive thinking can enhance our resilience, making it easier to bounce back from failures and continue pursuing our goals. Surrounding ourselves with supportive and encouraging people can also boost our motivation, as they can provide the encouragement and feedback we need to stay on track.

Moreover, understanding what motivates us personally is crucial. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Experimenting with different strategies, such as setting rewards, creating a motivating environment, or finding inspiration in others, can help identify what drives us best.

In conclusion, motivation is a powerful tool that can propel us towards success. By setting clear goals, maintaining a positive mindset, and understanding our unique motivators, we can harness this force to achieve our dreams and aspirations.
QURBONOVA GULSANAM ILHOM QIZI

 POETRY OF THE FIELD

In the morning of April
The sky was looking so ebullient
Sunshine has not yet touched the earth
So nice time it was for all of us to reap corn in the field
It was a nice time for the birds to sing while eating insects in the field.
Many birds came and Twitter over the field
So melodious was their voice.
Among them, there were also herons
They are silent spectators
Meditative always on the prey.
Like fake saints.

My attention was diverted while reaping the corn.
For, they sang so sweetly
Further, from distant lands were coming 
the sounds of cuckoo.
My co-farmers were  also  enthusiastic
on cuckoo's sweet spell 

A subtle communication started between 
me and the sweet songbirds.
Oh  birds, for whom you are all singing so sweetly
For yourself
For, the creator
Or, for the creation. 
I could not get any answer from them.
I looked at them with an inquisitive eye
Sill could not.

While returning from the field
I could get my answer.
It came automatically to my mind.
It is, as if, a subtle voice was ringing in my ear.

Oh dear,
This is a very simple question.
We are not singing for ourselves
we are singing for the whole creation
To make the environment joyful
To fulfil the purpose of the Almighty.
In the process, we  get so much pleasure for making God's creation joyful.



 Oh, The Merciful Lord

There is nothing in the 
world like you
You are the epitome of love and blessedness
The epitome of magnanimity.
How much I thought of you.
Throughout the day and night, I am thinking of you.
You are gloriously present everywhere. 
The more I think of you, the more your glory is revealed.

Wherever I look, your gracious figure is coming to my mind.
For you are everywhere and in everything. 
Now I realise how it is to think of you,
In every object of the world living and nonliving.
There is nothing more blessedness than to 
feel  you everywhere
To remain under your spell of happiness and blessedness.
To remain in your sweet clasp.

Though In this earth field, other thoughts are  coming and disturbing
But I am trying to remain calm, thinking that these thoughts are also coming from you.
With this thought in mind, when I am merging my mind with your lovely thoughts, they are 
fleeing to their nest.

Oh, Supreme sweet master of the world your boundless love
has so beautifully enveloped the whole world.
It is clearly visible how distinctly and dazzlingly  you are present in all the objects of the world
I bow down at your lotus feet for infinite periods in silent reverence.



OH  HAPPINESS

Oh Happiness you are like the ethereal songs of heaven.
Everybody wants to share your wings of love.
Where is your bough of blossoms?
Come on and spread your sweet fragrance on all of us.

Oh Happiness where is your passion of embrace.
Spread your subtle links of the net to cover all of us.
Where is your cheerful bed in which you lull all to sleep?
And intoxicate all in the rapt calm reverie.

Oh, Happiness the divine gift of heaven.
Your touch is like the charm of a thousand roses.
Your presence is the sweetest of morning breeze
And charmful abode of heavenly  peace

Oh, Happiness gives a place to all the wretched persons in your sweet lap.
To give a moment's joy to the restless soul.
To relieve the pangs they endure throughout their life.
To embellish them all in the glory of divine love and peace.



 WAITING

He came as per my invitation
He came with his characteristic smile
Most assiduously stepped into 
The dark room
Wide Opened
With cosy slow steps
There was deep silence all around
Outside there was a stiff winter night

With his flute in hand 
And the slow ringing of
anklet bells
He walked into the room
The room became lit
There was a smell of sweet flowers
As if it is a house full of flowers. 
As per his promise, he came
And went away seeing me unconscious.

I was in deep sleep
Could not greet him
A sombre deep dark sleep like a cloud
had wrapped me.
I could not get up
Could not reply
Latter
I woke up from deep slumber
The room was enthralled with the smell of flowers
And sandalwood paste 
I felt magical ecstasy

I wept and wept till morning



Dr. Maheswar Das is a bilingual poet, translator, editor, and story writer. He writes in English and Odia language.

He has been pursuing his creative writing for the last twenty years and has authored more than one thousand English poems. All of his poetical exposition centres around Nature, God,   love, and relationships. Some of his poems have been translated into international languages. He has co-authored three English anthologies of poems with his two friends.  Besides he is the co-author of more than fifty English anthologies of poems of many literary groups.

He holds the degree of M.A. in both Economics and History. He has accomplished a Ph.D.  degree in sociology from Utkal University. He also holds a law degree from M.S. Law College, Cuttack. He hails from Mallipur in the district of Cuttack, Odisha, India.
His English poems have been published in several national and international journals and Anthologies and have gained worldwide appreciation. He has received so many accolades from various national and international literary groups. He is a recipient of the Gold Medal award from the World Union of Poets, Rome.

 
Teachings
 
Miss no chance to be still.
Lean back against the sink while you brush,
don't roam
into the sickening maelstrom of sights
that remind you why you should fear.
Don't yearn for your worry stone.
Take it from the pocket where it waits.
Feel its softness,
Test its minor heft,
Smell the stone aroma,
Touch it to your tongue, if you dare,
and listen to its heart.
No far-off waves, just you.

 

The Unknown
 
I told you not to be demure.
Not to trust the elderly sage with the long beard.
That knowledge is won by astute observation.
By deliberate observation.
By prayer and meditation.
Do not trust what is easy.
Easy always loses.
Persevere and let life guide you.
You have suffered.
Give up trying my child.
Let the winds of change be your metamorphosis.
This is not a dream.
This is the intolerable life of the unknown.
Give yourself over to it.
Let the fantasy and delusion melt into thin air.
Walk the irretrievable journey into oblivion and sunshine.
Let the gifts of life reveal itself to you.
Bend a knee and welcome salvation.
 

What is True Friendship?

Annotation: Friendship is a feeling that adorns human life, giving tranquility and peace of mind. Finding a true friend starts with becoming close with them, earning their respect and trust. For trust is nurtured by the peace of the heart and the purity of the soul.

Keywords: Interest, Support, Selflessness, Honesty, Respect, Motivation.

True friendship is the embodiment of a person who stands by you in any situation with their whole heart and wholehearted sincerity. A compassionate soul who cares for you without expecting anything in return, who doesn't demand anything from you. Throughout life, a person experiences various situations: good and bad, problematic, joyful, and a host of others. A person who stands by you during those moments, supports you without expecting anything in return, is a true friend.

Friendship is a tree where its seeds are loyalty, its branches are hope, and its leaves are bliss. Friendship can be described with the following characteristics: interest, trust, selflessness, respect, support, and honesty.

Interest: A true friend is not indifferent to what is happening in your life; they are with you during your good and bad times, showing interest in your work, your mood, and your overall well-being.

Trust: Trust plays an essential role in any relationship. When there is mutual trust in a relationship, people feel true friendship. If someone you trust betrays your secret by telling someone else, it damages the friendship.

Selflessness: Be genuine in your relationship without expecting anything from the person beside you. Some people bring comfort to your soul with their conversations. Not everyone turns out to be as they seem. True friends are those who stand by you during difficult times, not leaving you alone.

Respect: This is an essential element in any relationship between people. When there is respect, the relationship becomes genuine. A person who respects themselves will also respect others. Respect strengthens the foundation of friendship, inspiring envy in groups and collectives.

Support: This involves constantly seeing a person's work, achievements, or shortcomings, guiding them in the right direction, supporting them, and motivating them. A true friend is one who lifts a person's spirits, inspires new hope and trust, and gives good advice.

Honesty: It is characterized by a person accepting another's personality without any additions, speaking the truth in various situations, and expressing genuine concern for the person, even if the truth is harsh.

In conclusion, friendship is a bond built on love, sincerity, simplicity, and truthfulness. The foundation of this bond is built on trust, its bricks are made of love, and its roof is earned through respect. May every person experience such a sincere, true feeling in their lives.

Xadichaxon Yuldasheva was born on January 8, 1993, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She has a deep interest in literature and art, particularly enjoying reading ghazals and other forms of literary works. During her school and lyceum years, she actively participated in competitions and contests, achieving notable success in ghazal recitation and poetry composition.