Visual poetry from Sean Meggeson

Statements

[flight]

A quiet, slow meditation on the conflict between industrial society and bird flight. 

[lost]

An exploration of loss with an emphasis on the fragmentary and impermanent nature of the things that bring meaning and non-meaning to life.

Poetry from Kemal Berk

Older South Asian man with gray hair, a black jacket, and reading glasses.

I seek myself in you

 I loved you from afar, my beautiful one.

I miss you so much, day and night.

Your beautiful words reach my heart.

I seek myself in you, not in myself.

Don’t just watch and laugh: extend your hand.

I see your honeyed tongue singing.

You stole my mind while you were the girl of our house.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

The judge spoke from the middle of the book.

He said that you are the source of peace and the taste of my mouth.

Your mother named you when you were born.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

Gliding over the sea

You smile at me, beautiful one, I admire you.

You fascinate me so much that I feel you reach my heart.

I don’t seek myself in myself, but in you.

There are mountains that are vast and high.

It is the immaculate snow I have placed in my heart.

In my heart, your words are honor.

I do not seek myself in myself, but in you.

From Kemal Berk

I was born in 1955 in the Sungurlu district of Çorum province, Turkey. I attended primary, secondary, and high school in Sungurlu. I completed my university education at Ankara Gazi Education Institute. I began teaching in 1978 and retired in 2016. I am married with three children and four grandchildren. In addition to my professional life, I continued teaching Turkish folk dances, which began during my student years, and taught them to hundreds of students. We participated in festivals, opening ceremonies, and competitions, and won awards. I took special art courses, learning 3D painting techniques, and creating paintings. I took a course for the hearing impaired, learning how to communicate with people with hearing impairments. For two years, I attended special gastronomy courses and learned to prepare various meat dishes, vegetable dishes, desserts, pastries, and buns. Preparing and serving these dishes gives me peace of mind. I volunteer at AFAD, which provides aid in disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and landslides.

Poetry from John Grey

THE RAT

He’s staring at you

like you’re a total stranger.

You’ve shared this house for twenty years

and he suddenly wonders what you’re doing here.

This is the same guy

for whom to see you was to hug you,

who sent you roses on non-birthdays,

and salvaged so many hard work days

by preparing candle-lit dinners for two.

And now, out of nothing more

than a bewildered look,

he says, “I don’t love you.”

But it’s not the man you know

who’s saying it.

The words sink in

but he doesn’t.

It’s first thing in the morning.

You’re making breakfast.

He’s rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

You freeze as if you’ve just seen a rat

scurrying across the kitchen floor.

The rodent disappears into a crack in the wall.

It’s just wide enough for a man to follow.

FROM UNDER THE TREE

I can lie beneath

and look up

like a Chinese poet

squeezing every outstanding

universal question

into the wind-rock of branches,

the shake of leaves,

the solid trunk,

and the bird life

that flutters in and out,

moments of brown

and blue and red

to stoke the living green.

God’s omnipotence –

check!

man’s insignificance –

check!

death and rebirth –

check!

sorrow and joy

and hope and despair –

check! check!

and double check!

A solitary leaf breaks free of a limb,

slowly cascades down through the currents,

lands softly in the spreading roots.

So it’s not just me who does these things.

A FLOODED TOWN

Last night’s rain

is this morning’s flood,

as the river shatters its banks,

and the land is all current.

Topography is up for grabs,

and water swarms tree and house alike,

finds least resistance

where cars park and people live.

Boats row down main street,

Cop helicopters circle like hawks,

People scramble up to second floors,

match the downpour sob for sob.

Townspeople set their boundaries

but sometimes those margins can’t cope.

The weather wasn’t in on the agreement.

The river can only do so much.

So property, once thought impregnable,

is there for the taking.

What can’t happen here happens.

Self-confidence is just more debris.

CINEMA ROMANCE


A woman in white,
Anna struts by,
Anna on her way
to the door of her Romeo,
passing by like a swan,
head high,
wings held tight to her thighs.
high heels barely touching concrete
as if the sidewalk is
a carpet in a courtyard,
Vogue ascetic,
eyes wheel around her,
roofs shine like diamonds,
likewise the towers and domes.
feast for the eyes
to which no one’s invited
but that man
on his balcony,
corn-fed hair,
eyes beaming sun-signals
from the world’s highest point,
backed by blue sky
and a tarmac of flowers,
Don Juan ascended,
his cock-crow, the wind,
his palace, wherever
he finds himself smiling,
and soon lovers meet,
galvanized, energized,
a burning love’s flashes,
then the sky’s kind: lightning,
drenching rain,
thunder, the great roll of the rest of us.

REFUGE

When I move in with others,

I am alone.

At night, bedded among them,

I am almost with these people

but where I’ve come from,

what I’ve done,

still keeps us apart.

For all this welcoming,

their eyes ask, “Who are you?”

And their proffered understanding

comes with a caveat,

“Why are you this way?”

These days,

my only people are the stars.

Cloud cover,

no matter how beneficent,

can’t possibly bring me closer.

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in Shift, River And South and Flights. Latest books, “Bittersweet”, “Subject Matters” and “Between Two Fires” are available through Amazon. Work upcoming in Rush, Writer’s Block and Trampoline.

Essay from Rakhmataliyeva Navruza

Young Central Asian teen girl with short dark hair, small pearl earrings, brown eyes, and a white collared shirt and black pants, posing outside on concrete by an open window.

Annotation: Due to the rapid growth of digital technologies, the way people receive information, communicate, and form political and social opinions is undergoing significant changes. This article also provides recommendations on the proper use of social media during the digital transformation of society.

Keywords: social media, digital society, information security, youth awareness, fake news, virtual communication, digital culture, internet psychology, media literacy, online environment.

In the 21st century, where digital technologies are rapidly advancing, social media has become an integral part of human life. It serves not only as a means of communication but also as a source of information, education, business development, participation in political processes, and personal branding. Today, a large portion of the world’s population spends a considerable amount of time on social networks, and this significantly affects various layers of society.

Social media has become a primary platform for fast information exchange and global interaction. Through these platforms, people share their thoughts, stay updated on news, and form communities and groups. Among young people especially, social media has deeply penetrated everyday life and plays an important role in shaping identity and worldview. Additionally, social media is widely used in business and marketing. It offers great opportunities for small and medium enterprises to advertise, connect directly with consumers, and enter the market quickly.

Social media provides instant access to news and events. People follow global developments, scientific discoveries, and economic changes primarily through these platforms. Many educational platforms, blogs, video lessons, and online courses spread through social networks, providing students, learners, and professionals with opportunities to improve their skills. Social media also contributes to the development of open dialogue, diversity of opinions, and a culture of free discussion within society. Various social initiatives, environmental campaigns, and charity activities reach large audiences through social media, and they play a role in uniting people.

However, due to its open structure, misinformation spreads quickly on social media. This may negatively influence public opinion and lead to incorrect social decisions. The excessive attractiveness of virtual life can cause young people to waste time unproductively, experience psychological pressure, or develop complexes due to comparing themselves with others. Personal information shared by users can be exploited by fraudsters. Constant dependence on likes and comments may also lead to psychological addiction.

Checking information sources, relying on trustworthy platforms, and avoiding the spread of fake news are essential rules of digital culture. At the same time, parents and educators must focus on developing correct social media usage skills among young people.

In conclusion, social media plays an important role in the development of modern society. It simplifies education, business, communication, and information exchange. However, improper use can lead to negative consequences. The main task of society is to use social media effectively and safely, promote media culture among the youth, and improve information literacy. Only then can social media become a powerful tool that contributes to social progress.

Rakhmataliyeva Navruza Umidjon qizi was born on March 21, 2005, in Pop district of Namangan region. She completed her studies at School No. 32 in her district and is currently a 3rd-year student at Namangan State Pedagogical Institute.

Since childhood, Navruza has been passionate about literature and poetry. In addition, she is a five-time Champion of Uzbekistan in rhythmic gymnastics. She has actively participated in events organized by the Youth Affairs Agency, as well as in Zakovat intellectual competitions, and has earned several certificates.

Essay from Avazbekova Rayyonaxon

Young Central Asian woman with dark curly hair and a blue and tan patterned top.

PROFESSIONAL CULTURE OF MEDICAL WORKERS AND THE ART OF COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS

Annotation

This article provides a scientific analysis of the professional culture of medical workers, the art of communicating with patients, and the requirements of medical ethics and deontology. It also focuses on the importance of proper patient interaction in medical institutions, mechanisms for developing communication skills, empathy culture, trust factors in the doctor–patient relationship, and their interpretation based on international standards. Research results show that a high level of professional culture significantly improves a patient’s psychological state and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Keywords: professional culture, medical ethics, deontology, patient communication, empathy, trust, communication skills.

Introduction

The development of modern medicine requires medical specialists not only to possess strong professional knowledge and skills but also to demonstrate high levels of culture, behavior, speech literacy, and communication skills when interacting with patients. A patient’s trust in the doctor is one of the most important psychological factors that influences the treatment process. It is difficult to achieve positive results in an environment where the professional culture of medical staff is insufficient.

Today, humanism, professional responsibility, and communication culture occupy an important place in the healthcare system. It is essential that communication between the doctor and the patient be sincere, respectful, and neutral. Therefore, the professional culture of a medical worker is not only a set of ethical norms but also an important indicator of the quality of medical services.

Main Part

1. The concept and essence of professional culture

Professional culture refers to the medical worker’s professional responsibility, adherence to ethical norms, appearance, speech culture, psychological stability, humane attitude toward patients, and communication skills.

The main components of professional culture include:

professional knowledge and competencies;

medical ethics and deontology norms;

social and psychological culture;

communication culture;

personal appearance and hygiene;

respect for the patient’s individuality.

When a doctor demonstrates a high level of professional culture, the patient develops trust, which ultimately increases the effectiveness of treatment.

2. Principles of medical ethics and deontology

Medical ethics is a set of norms that govern the behavior, professional conduct, and communication of medical workers with patients.

Deontology, on the other hand, refers to a doctor’s duties, responsibilities, and the ethical system that governs respect for the patient’s life and health.

Core principles include:

prioritizing the patient’s life and health;

maintaining confidentiality;

honesty and responsibility;

non-discrimination and respectful communication;

providing psychological support;

being impartial throughout the treatment process.

Compliance with these principles ensures that the medical service aligns with international standards.

3. The art of patient communication and communication culture

The art of patient communication refers to the doctor’s ability to interact with patients politely, sincerely, clearly, and in a psychologically comfortable manner.

It includes the following components:

3.1. Beginning the interaction

greeting the patient and introducing oneself;

asking about the patient’s condition and initiating the conversation politely;

understanding the patient’s fears, anxiety, and pain.

3.2. Demonstrating empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand the patient’s emotional state, listen attentively, and respect their feelings.

Doctors with high empathy levels build stronger patient trust.

3.3. Using clear and understandable language

Excessive use of medical terminology can confuse patients.

Therefore, a doctor must:

explain information in simple, clear language;

present issues concisely;

provide written recommendations when necessary.

3.4. The culture of listening

Active listening means focusing on the patient without interrupting, carefully understanding their concerns.

This helps quickly identify health issues.

3.5. Culture of physical interaction

During medical examinations:

informing the patient about each step;

respecting the patient’s personal boundaries;

strictly following hygiene rules — are essential elements of medical professionalism.

4. Psychological impact of communication on treatmen effectiveness

Research shows that warm, respectful communication between doctor and patient:

reduces anxiety;

decreases perceived pain;

increases medication effectiveness;

accelerates rehabilitation.

Thus, effective communication serves as a psychological tool that complements medical treatment.

5. International experience and modern approaches

In advanced healthcare systems, the communication culture of medical workers is given special attention. For example:

In the United States, the “Patient-centered care” model is widely used;

In European countries, “Medical Communication Competence” courses are mandatory;

In Japan, empathy and politeness form an integral part of medical protocol.

These practices significantly improve the quality of healthcare services.

Conclusion

The professional culture of medical workers is one of the key factors in effective patient communication. A doctor’s ethics, speech culture, appearance, empathy, and adherence to medical ethical standards play an essential role in the success of the treatment process. In an environment where the art of communication with patients is well-developed, trust increases, psychological wellbeing improves, and rehabilitation becomes faster.

Therefore, enhancing the professional culture of medical workers, continuously improving communication skills, and aligning patient communication practices with international standards remain crucial tasks.

References

1. Karimova M. Fundamentals of Medical Ethics and Deontology. Tashkent, 2021.

2. World Health Organization (WHO). Patient-centered Communication Guidelines, 2020–2023.

3. Smith J. Medical Communication Competence. New York: Elsevier, 2019.

4. Rasulov A., Nasriddinov U. Medical Culture and Doctor–Patient Relations. Tashkent Medical Publishing, 2022.

5. European Medical Association. Doctor–Patient Interaction Standards, 2022.

Avazbekova Rayyonaxon was born on March 12, 2008, in Andijan city, Andijan region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, into an intellectual family.

She is a first-year student of the Andijan Branch of Kokand University, Faculty of Medical Treatment, group 25-11.

Essay from O‘rozboyeva Shodiya

Young Central Asian woman with long straight black hair and a white collared top.

How Social Media Affects Young People

Nowadays, it is difficult to imagine life without social media. They have become an integral part of our lives: some people use them to stay informed about the news, others to communicate with friends, and some to gain knowledge. Especially among young people, the role of social media is enormous. However, their impact can vary from person to person — for some, they bring benefits, while for others, they become a reason for wasting time.

For me personally, social media brings more benefits. Because I try to use them properly. For example, through the “Ibrat Farzandlari” app, I do various exercises to learn German, English, and other foreign languages. This app helps me improve my vocabulary and make my speech more fluent. In addition, through the “Mutolaa” app, I read new books and stories every day. Such platforms awaken in me a love for reading and an interest in books.

However, unfortunately, not all my peers use social media correctly. Some spend most of their time watching useless or even harmful content. This reduces their attention to studying and negatively affects their mood. Some, on the other hand, become too immersed in the virtual world and gradually distance themselves from real-life relationships. In my opinion, the problem is not in social media itself, but in us, the youth. Because we are the ones who choose how to use them. If we use them to gain knowledge, learn languages, and stay informed about new events, they will be useful.

On the contrary, if we use them to waste time, compare ourselves with others, or follow meaningless posts, they will harm us. Social media, in fact, is a great opportunity for young people to expand their thinking, express themselves, and work on self-improvement. The important thing is to know how to use them in the right way. In conclusion, social media can be both useful and harmful — it depends on how we use them. I believe that every young person should learn to use social media in a way that brings benefit. Because every opportunity gives a real result only when it is used correctly.

O‘rozboyeva Shodiya Shonazar qizi was born on December 21, 2007, in Eshimjiron village, Gurlan district, Khorezm region, Republic of Uzbekistan. She is a first-year student at Urgench Innovative University, Faculty of Philology and Language Teaching: Uzbek Language.

Poetry from Avazova Diyora Alisher qizi

Young Central Asian woman in a long black and white coat, outside near some green bushes. She's wearing an embroidered Uzbek headdress.

Be healthy for our happiness, dear teacher

May your precious head be safe and sound,

May every morsel you eat be pure and blessed.

May the tears in your eyes stay hidden,

We always bow to you with respect —

Be healthy for our happiness, dear teacher.

You truly deserve honor and esteem,

We humbly bow our heads before you.

You have done so much good for us,

We are always grateful to you —

Be healthy for our happiness, dear teacher.

May you guide us at every moment,

May our path stay bright and clear.

Sincere wishes and heartfelt prayers —

We always acknowledge your kindness,

Be healthy for our happiness, dear teacher.

Avazova Diyora Alisher girl was born on July 17, 2007, in Kitob district, Kashkadarya region. She graduated from School No. 91 with a Gold Medal for her excellent academic performance, diligence, exemplary behavior, and initiative.

She is currently a member of the Kashkadarya Regional Youth Parliament’s Active Members team and a volunteer of the “Golden Wing” movement. She holds numerous international certificates and is a member of “JUNTOS POR LAS LETRAS” and the Global Friends Club. She has been awarded the “Best Promoter” certificate twice.

Her poems and articles have been published in Kenya, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Turkey, and several other international and local publishing houses. She is a graduate of the “Diamond Girls” project and won 2nd place in the “Initiator of the Year — 2024” competition. She is also a participant in the G4G program designed for girls.

She was a delegate of the “2024 Asia–Pacific Young Leaders Summit” and an official delegate of the Istanbul International Model United Nations. She serves as the Azerbaijan coordinator of the Shishu Ullash organization and is an official delegate of the “Future Office” Season 2.

She holds more than 50 international certificates. She is an official member of the “Towards Leadership” project and actively participates in various projects and competitions. She is a delegate of “ELEVATE MUN,” Deputy Head of Media Literacy at the “Yuksak Parvozim” Young Creators Movement, and coordinator of “Umid Yo‘gdusi.” She is also featured in the “Young Leaders” Encyclopedia.