Working for 18 years for the best boss ever a 30-something hot blonde divorcee alone in the Big Apple sent by a headhunter to a wealthy financier his team of assistants lawyers, traders a masseuse every day she schedules them in her private office in his brownstone in his home setting dates, times travel plans, meals, gifts girls, young girls and their friends her own life suburban a husband in Connecticut a baby on the way a doubled salary to stay a car, a nanny, a loan and an NDA the girls come and go she keeps arranging payments, visas flights, schedules island vacations very famous men very young women she sees nothing knows nothing does nothing says nothing at her hearing after the fact.
a fascist is a fascist is a fascist
Night town white town deep snow deep cold color white but here we all are hybrid nation of individual freedoms blackbooted stomped and kicked aside laws, norms, civility under hard ice feet glorifying the crush the masks the heavy arms bulked up brutality colorless cruelty attack dogs clawing what stands in the way of a bulldozed morality while the red rose pools red red red on the soft white snow.
The Enigmatic Everybody
I am become an enigma to myself.—St. Augustine
Everybody does what everybody does with a lunatic’s clarity building the same billionaire bunkers on green plastic grass the same shiny luxury cars on the Italian stone drive on the razor’s edge between boredom and suicide everybody does what everybody does the same Mar-a-Lago face under the same blunt cut the same slink, sassy shoes inflated breasts and lips the muscles maxxed worked up, injected the same dark shades hiding eyes without occupancy on the razored border between lived and lost everybody does what everybody does same movies, shows, media slop thoughts and conversations the endless drive for more attention, goods, money talking to itself it is all anyone can do to be alive, a self, awake as the lands burn as the seas rise as the species die off as the planet wobbles on this razor’s edge everybody does what everybody does until they do something else.
Waray Literature and Kimball’s Critique of Contradictions in Eagleton’s Work
III
The Leyte Samar Heritage Center has a cozy bookstore called Kaaradman Library & Bookshop, which specializes in Visayas literature. They carry titles like Pinili: 15 Years of Lamiraw, Tinalunay: Hinugpong nga Panurat nga Winaray, and Sa Atong Dila: Introduction to Visayan Literature. I picked up Bagulaya’s Writing Literary History there. Afterwards, I headed to Dunkin’ Donuts on Salazar Street and devoured the book over donuts and iced coffee. It was dusk. The first page I read was Bagulaya’s critique of modernist literature.
Both Brooks and Richards obviously privilege the language of poetry. But this privileging denies practical logic which makes poetry anti-logic. It reduces the poem to New Critical sophistry. No wonder Brooks appreciated Donne’s poem for its paradox: “The lovers in rejecting life actually win the most intense life” (Brooks 1972, 38). From the above sophistry, it is obvious that New Criticism is not only anti-practical logic, it is at the same time metaphysical. They are able to resolve the apparent contradictions not in the material reality, but in metaphysical space of the poem. Moreover, the notion that poetry is different from the normal prose language because it uses metaphor is also unacceptable. As critic Terry Eagleton counters, “the idea that there is a single normal language, a common currency shared equally by all members of a society, is an illusion” (1983, 5). (Bagulaya 100 emphasis added)
IV
The following applies Kimball’s critiques, originally directed at Eagleton, to Bagulaya’s “The Ideology of Modern Waray Poetry,” examining the parallels point by point.
Forcing Everything into a Marxist Framework
Kimball’s criticism of Eagleton: His discussion of aesthetics “transforms a philosophical innovation into a dramatic example of class warfare… as if reason were a feudal lord oppressing the serfs of sensation” (24). Bagulaya does exactly this. He takes poems that appear to be about personal, intimate experiences – such as Victor Sugbo’s “Kan Margaret,” which is simply about an uncle leaving his niece (Bagulaya 110) – and forces them into an allegory of “city vs. countryside,” “center vs. periphery,” and “semifeudal exploitation.” Just as Kimball accused Eagleton of twisting Baumgarten’s aesthetics into a narrative of political oppression, Bagulaya reduces every line of poetry to a symptom of economic relations. He assumes that everything (the choice of subject, the use of imagery, the decision to write about private life) must ultimately be explained by the “semicolonial, semifeudal” structure of the economy. Bagulaya posits that “Modern Waray poetry has so far been argued as the most recent cultural development of the persistent semicolonial, semifeudal Philippine economy (120). To Kimball, this is not analysis; it is ideological projection: seeing only what your theory tells you to see, regardless of what the work actually says or means.
Misinterpretation and Distortion of Meaning
Kimball’s criticism of Eagleton: “[He] drastically misreads the philosophers he discusses” misunderstanding Schopenhauer’s pessimism as a product of ‘class history’ rather than an essential feature of existence (24). Bagulaya fundamentally misrepresents the meaning and value of modern Waray poetry. He interprets its focus on the private realm, intimacy, and personal emotion as a sign of indifference, political unconsciousness, or support for the status quo. But as Kimball would argue, this is a total misreading. The turn toward the personal is not necessarily a “failure” or a hidden political stance; it can be a deliberate choice to explore human experience, beauty, memory, or individual truth, which are valid and meaningful in themselves.
Bagulaya claims that because these poets do not write explicitly about revolution or class struggle, they are “unconscious” or trapped in “split modernism.” This is like Eagleton saying art is only valuable if it serves a political end. Kimball would point out that Bagulaya judges the poetry only by his own political standard, completely missing its literary, emotional, or cultural value. He mistakes literary autonomy (the freedom of art to be about things other than politics) for a flaw or a contradiction.
Obsession with “Contradictions” That Exist Only in the Theory
Kimball’s criticism of Eagleton: “One must always be suspicious when a Marxist uses the term ‘contradiction,’ because it usually means that some aspect of reality is not conforming to his vision of things” (24). The entire analysis revolves around the idea of “split modernism,” the claim that modern Waray poetry is contradictory because it mixes modern techniques with traditional or romantic themes, and because it is caught between feudalism and modernity. Kimball would argue that this “contradiction” is not a flaw in the poetry, but a flaw in Bagulaya’s model.
There is nothing contradictory or wrong about a culture or literature blending old and new, local and foreign, personal and social. This is normal in every living tradition. But because Bagulaya measures reality against a rigid Marxist model of historical development (where things should move from feudal to modern in a straight line), he calls it a “split.” As Kimball said about Eagleton: “Minus that [Marxist model], it is merely a complex process that refuses to accommodate itself to the predictions of philosophers.” Bagulaya creates the problem himself, then blames the poetry for it.
Reducing Art to Ideology, Denying Intrinsic Value
Kimball’s criticism of Eagleton: “[He does not] care much for literature except in so far as it is an instrument for social change” (24). This is the core of Bagulaya’s argument. For him, poetry has no intrinsic value. It is good or bad, progressive or backward, only based on how well it reflects or challenges the economic base. He writes: “Modernist aesthetics is not enough… It takes a twenty-first century socialist revolution to transform poetry.”
To Kimball, this is the ultimate reductionism. It means that art is nothing more than a tool or a symptom. Bagulaya dismisses the beauty, skill, imagination, and emotional power of Waray poetry as secondary or even irrelevant. Just as Kimball rejected Eagleton’s view that aesthetic experience is “as coercive as law,” he would reject Bagulaya’s view that a poem about family or nature is actually just a hidden statement about surplus value or feudal exploitation. He would say: This tells us nothing about poetry, but everything about the critic’s obsession with politics.
Obscurantism and Dogma
Kimball’s criticism of Eagleton: His writing often becomes obscure and forced; full of jargon that keeps reality at bay. Bagulaya relies heavily on abstract terms like semicolonial semifeudalism, political unconscious, split modernism, ideological position, center vs. periphery, terms that function like a closed system. Once you accept these definitions, his conclusions follow automatically. But as Kimball would note, these are not discoveries; they are assumptions built into the language. By using this kind of jargon, Bagulaya avoids actually engaging with the poetry on its own terms. Instead of describing what the poems mean, he describes only how they fit (or fail to fit) his theory. And like Eagleton, he ends with a dogmatic conclusion: only a socialist revolution can save it, a solution that comes straight from ideology, not from literary analysis.
This analysis is a perfect example of what happens when literary criticism is swallowed whole by Marxist ideology. Bagulaya reads every poem as a coded document about class and economics, misinterprets the legitimate choice of personal themes as political failure, invents ‘contradictions’ that exist only in his own theoretical framework, and reduces the rich, diverse tradition of Waray poetry to nothing more than a reflection of the economy. It is not an analysis of literature, it is ideology in action. It tells us almost nothing about the poetry itself, but a great deal about the rigid, reductive worldview of the critic.
V
Bagulaya’s Writing Literary History gives space to Sugbo’s Waray verses. On page 277, you’ll find the opening lines of Sugbo’s poem “This Anticipation for Poetry”.
How wearisome this search for poetry
More so when neither moon nor sun on you shines
The speaker is describing that looking for, creating, or seeking out poetry feels tiring, tedious, and exhausting. The act of trying to find or write poetry is difficult and draining; it feels like a heavy, unending effort. The sun and moon are metaphors of light, hope, clarity, inspiration, and guidance. The speaker is saying that the effort to find or make poetry is already tiring, but it becomes even more difficult and disheartening when there is no inspiration, guidance, or hope. Without that “light” (creativity, meaning, or motivation), the search feels pointless, bleak, and heavy. It describes the frustration of trying to create or find art when there is no inspiration or reason to keep going.
Short Biography
Fhen M.’s essay “Waray Literature and Kimball’s Critique of Contradictions in Eagleton’s Work” appears in Synchronized Chaos, an interdisciplinary journal focused on art, music, culture, science, and literature. Literary Heist also publishes his prose “Imagination of Disaster in the Major Works of Henry James: A Study by Genotiva.” From 2016 to 2017, he worked as an academic writer at Zeveral Academic Consultants Inc. in Pasig City, Metro Manila. During his tenure, his team leader gifted him a copy of the 2014 animated film The Prophet, adapted from Kahlil Gibran’s 1923 book. The film follows Mustafa, a poet and activist under house arrest in Ottoman-era Lebanon, as he engages in profound conversations with the townspeople on topics like work, love, and death. One of Gibran’s notable poems featured in the film is “On Work”.
war is not a protest but a lack of protest death is not a protest but a lack of protest laughter is not a protest but a lack of protest peace is not a protest but a lack of protest revolution is not a protest but a lack of protest life is not a protest but a lack of protest
a soldier cannot say no a citizen cannot say no a suicide cannot say no a lonely shadow cannot say no
THE EXPRESSION OF FOLK PROVERBS IN THE TEXT OF THE NOVEL “O‘TKAN KUNLAR”
Abstract: This article analyzes the artistic and linguistic features of folk proverbs used in Abdulla Qodiriy’s novel O‘tkan Kunlar (Bygone Days). The study examines the role of proverbs in enriching the system of characters, their function in the speech of the protagonists, and their significance in reflecting the national mentality. The research also explores the ways in which proverbs are integrated into the text structure, their contextual meanings, and their stylistic functions.
Keywords: Folk proverbs, O‘tkan Kunlar, Abdulla Qodiriy, literary text, linguostylistics, paremia, speech culture, imagery.
Abdulla Qodiriy’s novel O‘tkan Kunlar occupies a special place in Uzbek literature. The work is distinguished not only by its high artistic value but also by its unique language and style. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is the masterful use of folk proverbs, which represent some of the finest examples of oral folk creativity.
Folk proverbs are forms of wisdom passed down from generation to generation, embodying the life experiences and intellectual heritage of the people. They are concise yet profound expressions that reflect the worldview and cultural values of a nation. Qodiriy employs this rich heritage skillfully; he does not insert proverbs mechanically into the text but integrates them harmoniously with the psychology of the characters, the development of the plot, and the ideological message of the novel.
Although O‘tkan Kunlar has been extensively studied, the linguistic and stylistic analysis of its proverbs has not yet become a fully explored field of research. Therefore, this topic remains highly relevant. The present article aims to identify the proverbs found in the novel, classify them into thematic groups, determine their contextual functions, and demonstrate their value within the literary text.
When discussing the integration of proverbs into literary texts, it should be noted that the use of folk proverbs in literature has a long tradition. However, each writer continues this tradition in a unique way. Qodiriy employs three main methods of incorporating proverbs into his novel.
The first method is the use of a proverb in its complete and unchanged form. In such cases, the proverb appears directly in the speech of a character or in the author’s narration, allowing the reader to recognize it immediately. For example, the proverb “The dog barks, but the caravan moves on” is used in this manner.
The second method involves adapting a proverb to fit the context. In such instances, the core meaning of the proverb remains intact, while the word order or certain lexical elements are modified. This technique allows the proverb to blend more naturally into the text.
The third method is the indirect expression of a proverb’s meaning. Here, the proverb itself is not explicitly stated; instead, its essence is conveyed through the actions of the characters or the reflections of the narrator. This is the most complex method and requires a higher level of literary competence from the reader.
Qodiriy’s mastery lies in his ability to combine these three methods harmoniously. As a result, the text gains multiple layers of meaning rather than remaining a straightforward narrative.
The proverbs found in O‘tkan Kunlar can be classified into several thematic groups:
1. Proverbs about human relationships and loyalty;
2. Proverbs about wisdom and life experience.
The first group is the most common in the novel. Since the central theme of the work is love and loyalty, Qodiriy frequently employs proverbs related to these concepts. Proverbs such as “A good friend is like one’s hands and feet; a bad friend is a headache” are used to evaluate the relationships between Otabek and the people around him. Such proverbs serve as criteria for assessing the character and behavior of others.
Proverbs related to love are primarily used to express the feelings and devotion between Otabek and Kumush. These proverbs not only create a particular emotional atmosphere but also enable readers to gain deeper insight into the inner worlds of the characters.
The speeches of older characters, especially Yusufbek Hoji and other experienced figures, contain numerous proverbs related to wisdom and life experience. Proverbs such as “A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend” enrich their speech and emphasize their image as wise and knowledgeable individuals.
These proverbs form the educational and enlightening layer of the novel. Through them, Qodiriy conveys valuable life lessons to readers, not through direct preaching but through artistic expression.
The novel portrays the complexity of life and the unexpected turns of human destiny. Accordingly, proverbs expressing ideas such as “The heart longs for what the eyes have seen” or “No one can escape death” are reflected throughout the work. Such proverbs are often used during moments of hardship, despair, and suffering experienced by the characters.
These proverbs allow the misfortunes faced by the characters to be interpreted from a folk-philosophical perspective and contribute to the tragic tone of the novel.
In contexts associated with positive characters, especially Yusufbek Hoji, proverbs about hard work and perseverance are frequently encountered. Proverbs carrying meanings similar to “Those who strive achieve their goals” reflect the characters’ active approach to life and their philosophy of diligence.
One of the most important stylistic techniques employed by Qodiriy is adapting proverbs to the individual speech characteristics of his characters. Through this method, each character acquires a distinct linguistic portrait.
Yusufbek Hoji’s speech is particularly rich in proverbs. This is not accidental: he is a man of experience, wisdom, and eloquence. The proverbs he uses are carefully considered and perfectly suited to the situations in which they appear. At the same time, they deepen and enrich his character.
In contrast, the proverbs found in Kumush’s speech perform a somewhat different function. They are more emotional and heartfelt, serving as expressions of her inner feelings and emotional struggles. Here, the proverb functions not as a logical conclusion but as a manifestation of emotion.
Negative characters such as Hamid also use proverbs, but they often employ them incorrectly or manipulate them for personal gain. Through this technique, Qodiriy reveals the hypocrisy and deceitfulness of such characters.
In O‘tkan Kunlar, proverbs simultaneously perform several stylistic functions.
As a means of description. Proverbs often provide a level of precision and conciseness that cannot be achieved through ordinary language. Instead of lengthy descriptions, Qodiriy can portray an entire situation through a single proverb.
As a compositional device. In certain chapters and sections, proverbs serve as compositional nodes. They may momentarily pause the flow of events, encouraging readers to reflect, or they may prepare the ground for subsequent developments.
As a means of preserving national color. O‘tkan Kunlar depicts Uzbek life in the nineteenth century. Proverbs play a crucial role in recreating the speech and communication style characteristic of that period. They strengthen the historical and national atmosphere of the novel.
As a means of revealing character psychology. In many cases, the choice of a particular proverb and the context in which it is used reveal important aspects of a character’s inner world and emotional state. This forms part of Qodiriy’s technique of psychological realism.
A linguistic analysis of the proverbs in the novel reveals several important features.
Lexical characteristics. Proverbs generally employ simple and widely understandable vocabulary. However, this simplicity is only superficial; each word is carefully selected and precisely placed. The novel also contains archaic lexical elements, enriching its historical and linguistic dimension.
Syntactic characteristics. Most folk proverbs consist of two parts: the first presents a condition or description, while the second provides a conclusion. This parallel syntactic structure is preserved in the proverbs found throughout the novel. Such a structure creates rhythmic appeal and facilitates memorization.
Figurative usage. Many of the proverbs in the novel contain metaphors, comparisons, and irony. These figurative devices elevate them beyond simple didactic statements and transform them into genuine artistic expressions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, O‘tkan Kunlar is not only a masterpiece of Uzbek literature but also an exemplary illustration of how folk proverbs can be effectively integrated into a literary text. Abdulla Qodiriy demonstrates remarkable skill in using proverbs: he incorporates them naturally into the narrative, employs them effectively in character development, and relies on them as one of the principal means of preserving national color and historical atmosphere.
The thematic and linguistic study of the proverbs in the novel reveals new layers of meaning within the text. This once again confirms the promising potential of studying Qodiriy’s literary heritage from the perspectives of modern literary criticism and linguistics. Future research may yield significant results through comparative analyses of the proverbs in O‘tkan Kunlar and those found in the works of other Uzbek writers.
Akbarova Farangiz was born on May 16, 2005, in Qumqorgon district, Surkhandarya region. She is currently a 3rd-year student at Termiz University of Economics and Service, Faculty of Pedagogy and Social Sciences, majoring in Preschool and Primary Education with a specialization in Foreign Language, Group 2.23.
Joseph C Ogbonna is a widely published poet. Some of his many works have been published by Synchronized Chaos, Spillwords Press, Micromance magazine, PoetryXhunger, Waxpoetry Magazine, Borderless, Orenuag Journal, Ihram and more than two dozen anthologies and magazines. He also has two self-published volumes to his credit. His works, ‘Napoleon to Josephine and Josephine to Napoleon,’ had been aired by the BBC Radio 3 for a historic documentary.
He is a graduate of Nigeria’s famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he bagged a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Education. He has PGD, MBA, M.Sc and M.Ed degrees from other Nigerian institutions of higher learning. He lives in Enugu, Nigeria with his wife, Chizoba.
Because I have engraved you Within the deepest chamber of my heart, I keep walking this long and winding road— From morning until evening, From evening into the depths of night, And then to morning once more. Yet my journey never seems to end.
Because I have rooted you Into the innermost depths of my soul, Each afternoon you arrive with a flower in your hand. Upon the sun leaning over the bridge, Gentle waves of light flow through my heart Like the murmuring currents of the river.
.
As the sun descends beyond the horizon, My hand resting in yours, Like birds returning home at dusk, My spirit stirs within its nest, Bright with laughter and life.
Because I have found you Within this chamber of my heart, Perhaps the stars of the sky illuminate My once-dark shelter.
A deer’s playful restlessness, A world filled with simple grace, A lamp of love glowing within the eyes— As though it longs to tell A secret beyond words.
Within the flowers, within the birds, Deep in the heart’s silent depths, Light blossoms in stillness. The echoes of laughter and tears Rise and mingle endlessly With the stars across the heavens.
It is because I have found you That our world is filled with joy, wonder, and enchantment. Every narrow path, every alley, every hidden lane Spreads its wings across the boundless sky.
And so we continue to drift, And so we continue to soar, While our light of hope
Lives on— Eternal and bright.
Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh
08 May 2026.
Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.
Once when he was in grade ten in 1990, his Bangla letter was selected as the best one from Deutsche Welle, Germany Radio that broadcast Bangla news for the Banglalee people. And he was given 50 Dutch Mark as his award. They would ask letters from the listeners to the news in Bangla and select one letter for the best one in every month.
From 17 to 30 September, in 2018 he received a higher training in teaching English language in Kasetsart University of Thailand for secondary level students through a government order from education ministry.
On 06 November 2015 he achieved Amjad Ali Mondal Medal for his contribution in education field by a development organization in the conference and felicitation function for the honorable personalities at Rajshahi College Auditorium.
On 30 December 2017 from West Bengal in India he was declared a ‘Literary Charioteer’ in Bangobandhu Literary and World Bango Conference and they awarded him with a Gold Medal in their International Literary Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony.
In 2018, he achieved Prodipto Lirerary Award in Prodipto Literary Conference at Kesorhat, Rajshahi for poems in Bangla literature. He received honorary crest from the administration of Chapainawabganj District Literary Conference and Cultural Function in 2021 and 2022 consecutively.
His poems have been published in many international online magazines such as Juntos Por las L Raven Cage Zine, and Area Felix. His poems have been translated and published in Argentine and Serbian, and he participated in many international online cultural meetings.
