Our regular contributor Rui Carvalho invites readers and contributors to submit poetry to the next annual Nature Writing Contest.

Our contest, Nature 2025-2026, is a new opportunity that we, as organizers, create to reach the rest of the world. Every Contest is a challenge for authors participating and to people that make it happen. This year we invite all authors to write poetry about:
(i) Flowers;
(ii) Trees and wind;
(iii) Water;
(iv) Nature Conservation;
(v) Turtles;
(vi) Love for people and nature;
(vii) Hope and Happiness.

Rules and submission information here.

Synchronized Chaos’ new issue, Questing for Renewal, explores how people navigate a world marked by impermanence, injustice, loss, and change while continuing to seek meaning, compassion, and growth. Across poetry, fiction, essays, and criticism, the contributors examine life, always asking how individuals can respond with courage, creativity, and hope.

Christopher Bernard’s fourth installment of Otherwise argues that even in times when evil appears triumphant, humanity must continue imagining and building a better future. David and Emile Sapp offer complementary poetic and prose reflections on a natural scene with egrets and herons, while Elmaya Jabbarova envisions a fairer society grounded in ethics and spirituality. Sumana Bhattacharjee calls on individuals to improve the world through personal action, and Nidia Garcia presents a peaceful meadow that reminds readers of nature’s restorative power.

Family, love, and remembrance emerge as recurring themes. Priyanka Neogi and Maftuna Rustamova celebrate fathers through tributes to their wisdom, care, and everyday acts of devotion. Mirta Liliana Ramirez honors relationships which have ended yet still enrich her memories, while Graciela Noemi Villaverde reflects on a love that brings serenity and emotional balance. Jasmila Talić-Kujundžić speaks to the inner life of a mother: identity, spirituality, and love. Mesfakus Salahin contributes a piece of understated tenderness. Tursunqulova Sabina Muzrob qizi’s short adventure story celebrates friendship, respect, and community in a small village. Danijela Ćuk portrays steadfast loyalty amid life’s uncertainties, and Eva Lianou Petropoulou contributes both a call for peace and mutual respect and a celebration of enduring romantic tenderness.

Many contributors confront mortality and the passage of time. Mahbub Alam reflects on life’s transience and the need for gentleness; Kumushbibi Hamidova surveys contemporary longevity research; Alan Hardy meditates on aging, creativity, humility, and nature; Nurbek Norchayev examines impermanence and human experience; and Nad Raf offers visceral poems on grief, aging, and mortality. Royal Rhodes’ three poems deepen these concerns through explorations of vision, madness, embodiment, spiritual longing, and the tension between earthly existence and transcendence.

Several works address social realities and cultural history. Kahlil Crawford depicts cultural and ecological regeneration amid disruption while Shlok Pandey reveals the suffering war inflicts on ordinary lives. Alan Catlin’s work explores the ways writers, photographers, and other artists have borne witness to war, loss, and suffering and refused to abandon even the lives they could not save to oblivion. Joseph C. Ogbonna’s work is a politically charged, spiritually framed lament that draws on William Blake’s “Jerusalem” to reinterpret Nigeria’s national crisis through religious longing and moral urgency. Stephen Jarrell Williams’ work contains a spiritual element as well, urging readers to help make the present-day world more humane and just while holding to an eternal hope through faith. Bill Tope’s story recalls the discrimination faced by LGBTQ communities and Jacques Fleury’s darkly comic narrative uncovers the lingering struggles of abuse survivors. Hassan Musa Dakasku advocates fearless self-expression, Alex S. Johnson profiles artist and activist Nina Hartley, who advocated body autonomy, Patricia Doyne satirizes federal monuments mismanagement, and Dr. Jernail Anand Singh reflects on how societies create heroes and what heroism means today. Dr. Kathleen Bryson’s poetry recollects the U.S. 1969 moon landing and how it captured people’s imagination even as reality descended. Thi Lan Anh Tran and Musharraf Hussain examine the US-Iran conflict through the metaphor of a troubled relationship as Sardor Raximov outlines potential solutions to modern-day challenges to effective United Nations global leadership.

The collection also highlights cultural inquiry and intellectual growth. Shermamatova Charos celebrates a young lifetime spent reading a variety of material. Abdukarimova Qadriya Istat qizi documents the Timurid renaissance, Safarova Sabrina Fazliddin qizi poetically honors and celebrates her Uzbek heritage, and Orifjonova Imrona Ulugbek qizi investigates metamorphosis as a theme in contemporary Central Asian literature. Fhen M. contributes both a critique of reductive approaches to Philippine literary criticism and a metaphorical reflection on institutional decay through the image of a rotting ship. Next, Rukshona Abdulatipova discusses the educational and professional value of English-language learning, and Erkin Shaymardanov advocates cycling and physical activity as social goods. A survey of the works of Eldar Akhadov, Ashraf Abu al-Yazid, Shirani Rajapakse, Eden Soriano Trinidad, Adel Khozam, Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Luis Carlos Prestes Jr., Nia Amira Osman, and Margarita Al opens a window onto contemporary international literature as Richard C. Bower, Mansfield, UK’s poet laureate, expresses the value of poetry to help people slow down and think, in his interview with poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou.

Spiritual, ecological, and existential questions weave throughout the issue. Lan Xin calls for a global awakening from ignorance into higher consciousness. Shermamatova Dilnura Shavkat qizi describes personal reflections on what kind of person she wishes to become. Duane Vorhees combines myth, humor, tenderness, and everyday experience to show how people sustain one another through life. Mykyta Ryzhykh’s surreal and unsettling work explores homelessness, trauma, alienation, and fractured identity. J.J. Campbell’s poetry evokes disappointment, bodily exhaustion, failed idealism, and the slow erosion of meaning in everyday life, as Patrick Sweeney sketches out everyday life tipping into absurdity. Taryn Allan speaks to existential crisis, melancholy, and the human condition. Zunaira Rehman captures the ordinary heartbreak of life’s many farewells, while Elaine Murray finds resilience in rivers, mist, and starlight even as she mourns environmental degradation. Charos Ismoilova urges the ecological restoration of the Aral Sea as Ananya S. Guha suggests that continuing to love a natural place that has been degraded over time is itself an act of hopeful rebellion. Christina Chin celebrates peaceful moments with birds as Su Yun’s middle grade students revel in the mysteries and beauty of their environment. Brian Barbeito offers up a nostalgic and introspective reflection on his childhood and adolescence as Mark Young collaborates with nature on a fresh and vibrant set of his altered geographies. Sayani Mukherjee journeys through memory, history, and consciousness toward an affirmation of identity and selfhood. Finally, in his new collection tombboy, reviewed by Cristina Deptula, poet Mykyta Ryzhykh reaches out in an alienating, violent world for a fragile affirmation of love.

Together, these works form a rich tapestry of voices united by a common conviction: that despite loss, conflict, mortality, and uncertainty, human beings continue to seek understanding, preserve memory, nurture connection, and imagine renewal.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL

After D.C.’s Reflecting Pool gets repainted, visitors ask: “What changed?” NPR National & Local, June 5, 2026

In D.C., there’s a giant pool– reflects

our monuments to George and Abraham.

At sunrise and at sunset, there’s a jam

of tourists taking screen-shots, sent with text

to friends worldwide. Trump finds fault—paints its floor

a 15-million-dollar shade of blue.

He brags nonstop about the splendid hue.

Within a day, there’s change he can’t ignore.

The flag blue pool has turned to Kermit green.

Green algae, waiting in the water pipes

bloom big. It’s what they do. To keep it clean,

peroxide’s added.  No help.  Hear the gripes

when taxpayers count costs for this sad scene

of waste and ego, cloaked in stars and stripes. 

Copyright 6/2026                Patricia Doyne

The Timurid Renaissance
Abdukarimova Qadriya Istat qizi

Annotation
The Timurid Renaissance refers to a period of great cultural upsurge that occurred in Transoxiana and Khorasan in the late 14th – early 16th centuries. This period is characterized by unprecedented development in the fields of science, art, literature and architecture. Great thinkers and creators such as Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Abdurakhman Jomi laid the main cornerstones of this Renaissance. Their legacy had a great impact not only on the region, but also on world civilization. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the main features, achievements and significance of the Timurid Renaissance today.

Key words: Renaissance of Timurids, Movarounnahr, Khorasan, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Science, Culture, Architecture

Abstract
The Timurid Renaissance refers to a period of immense cultural flourishing that emerged in Transoxiana and Khorasan from the late 14th to the early 16th centuries. This era was characterized by unprecedented advances in science, art, literature, and architecture. Great thinkers and creators such as Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, and Abdurahman Jami laid the foundational stones of this renaissance. Their legacy significantly influenced not only the region but also global civilization. This article comprehensively analyzes the main characteristics, achievements, and contemporary significance of the Timurid Renaissance.
Keywords: Timurid Renaissance, Transoxiana, Khorasan, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Science, Culture, Architecture

Abstract
The Timurid Renaissance is a period of great cultural development, which took place in Maverannakhre and Khorasan from the end of the 14th to the end of the 16th century. Eta epoch was characterized by unprecedented progress in science, art, literature and architecture. Great thinkers and creators, such as Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi and Abdurakhman Djami, are the founders of this revival. Ix nasledie okazalo znachitelnoe influence neither tolko nor region, nor i nor mirovuyu vilizatsiyu. This article comprehensively analyzes the basic characteristics, achievements and contemporary significance of Renaissance Timuridov.

Keywords: Renaissance Timuridov, Maverannakhr, Khorasan, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Science, Culture, Architecture

The concept of the “Temurid Renaissance” refers to the period of cultural, scientific and artistic upsurge observed in Central Asia in the 14th-16th centuries. This period occupies an important place not only in the history of the region, but also in the history of world civilization, characterized by unprecedented progress in the fields of science, literature and art, supported by Amir Temur and his successors. This Renaissance period was a complex phenomenon that covered all aspects of philosophy, architecture and social life. Language policy in the society of the Timurid era was one of the main factors of cultural development [1]. Multilingualism was widespread, with Turkic serving as a common, administrative and military language, Persian occupying a prominent place in court literature and scientific works, and Arabic playing a decisive role in the acquisition of religious and philosophical knowledge [1]. The interaction of these languages ​​​​stimulated intellectual growth.

One of the most prominent figures of this period, Alisher Navoi, played a major role in elevating the Turkic language to scientific and literary status. His work “Muhokamat al-Lughatayn” demonstrated the richness of the Turkic language and proved its equality with Persian as a literary medium [1]. The balanced language policy of the Timurid Empire, which treated different languages ​​with respect and encouraged their use in diplomacy and administration, played an important role in society and contributed to the enduring legacy of this period [1]. The establishment of scientific centers such as the Ulugbek Observatory is a vivid example of achievements in astronomy and mathematics [2]. This Renaissance period was not only the intellectual peak of its time, but also served as a source of inspiration for subsequent generations and had an incomparable impact on world civilization.

Analysis of relevant literature
The topic of the Timurid Renaissance is being analyzed in modern scientific literature, especially in publications after 2020, as one of the most brilliant periods in the history of Central Asia. These studies explore the multifaceted nature of the Renaissance, its cultural, scientific and socio-political aspects in their interrelation. Recent scientific works emphasize the crucial role of language policy in the cultural rise of the Timurid era. Sources after 2020 [1] highlight the prevalence of multilingualism, the specific functions of the Turkic, Persian and Arabic languages ​​in society, as well as the fact that their interaction stimulated intellectual growth and cultural exchange. The enormous role of Alisher Navoi in elevating the Turkic language to scientific and literary status through his work “Muhokamat al-Lughatayn” [1] is being studied in depth in modern literary criticism.

The Timurid Empire’s balanced language policy, which respected different languages ​​and encouraged their use in diplomacy and administration, played an important role in society and contributed to the enduring legacy of the period [1], has been noted in recent scholarly work as one of the distinctive features of the Timurid Renaissance. This approach demonstrates the importance of language policy in ensuring not only cultural but also socio-political stability. The achievements of the Timurid Renaissance in science, especially in astronomy and mathematics, have been increasingly covered in scholarly literature published in recent years.

Mirzo Ulugbek’s observatory in Samarkand deserves special attention as one of the most prominent scientific centers of the period. Research since 2020 [2] provides an in-depth analysis of the construction details, activities, and scientific significance of this observatory. The observatory was built between 1420 and 1428 under the patronage of Mirzo Ulugbek, and Ulugbek himself, Qazizoda Rumi, and Ghiyosiddin Koshi participated in its design [2]. Its main instrument was a huge quadrant with a diameter of 40.2 meters, which was capable of measuring celestial bodies and other astronomical phenomena with high accuracy [2]. The fact that more than 60 mathematicians and astronomers worked at the observatory, first under the leadership of Jamshid al-Koshi, then Qazizoda Rumi, and later Ali Kushchi [2] is a vivid testimony to the attention paid to science during the Timurid era.

Despite Ulugbek’s death, the observatory operated for another twenty years under the leadership of Ali Kushchi. The astronomical tables created there gained wide popularity in the East, reached Europe by 1650 and remained unrivaled for a long time [2]. This shows the incomparable contribution of the Timurid Renaissance to the development of global science.

In the field of literary criticism, new studies devoted to the work and personality of Alisher Navoi, one of the brightest figures of the Timurid Renaissance, also occupy an important place. Sources after 2020 [3] provide a deep analysis of Navoi’s place not only as a great poet and thinker, but also as a key figure of the Eastern Renaissance.

In conclusion, the recent literature on the subject analyzes the Timurid Renaissance as a unique cultural and scientific phenomenon not only on a regional but also on a global scale. The role of language policy in cultural development, the contribution of scientific centers such as the Ulugbek Observatory to world science, and the literary legacy of Alisher Navoi are being deeply and comprehensively covered in modern research. These works reveal the complex and rich intellectual landscape of the Timurid era and make it possible to assess its impact on world civilization from a new perspective. The analysis of the literature shows that the Timurid Renaissance is not only a bright page of the past, but also embodies cultural, scientific, and social lessons that are relevant for the present.

Research methodology
This article is aimed at an in-depth analysis of the multifaceted nature of the Timurid Renaissance, using a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to study its cultural, scientific, and socio-political aspects in their interrelation. The main goal of the study is to scientifically substantiate the specific features of the intellectual and artistic upsurge observed in Central Asia during the Timurid era, its causes, development mechanisms, and its impact on world civilization.

As a methodological basis, historical-comparative analysis, textual studies, source studies, and systematic approaches are used in harmony. Historical-comparative analysis allows us to identify its unique features and general patterns by comparing the Timurid Renaissance with other periods of cultural upsurge, in particular, the European Renaissance and the previous “Golden Age” periods in the Islamic world. This approach is of great importance in determining the uniqueness of the Timurid Renaissance and its place in the regional and global context.

The source-based approach involves a critical analysis of primary and secondary sources relating to the Timurid period. Primary sources include historical chronicles of the period (e.g. Sharafiddin Ali Yazdi’s “Zafarnoma”), biographical works, diplomatic documents, as well as literary and artistic works (Alisher Navoi’s “Khamsa”, “Muhokamat al-Lug’atayn” [1], [3]), scientific treatises (Mirzo Ulugbek’s “Ziji jadidi Ko’ragoni” [2]), and philosophical treatises. These sources provide direct information on various aspects of Timurid society, including language policy [1], scientific achievements [2], and literary heritage [3]. Secondary sources consist of modern scientific literature, monographs, dissertations and scientific articles on the topic, which allow us to summarize existing scientific views on the Timurid Renaissance and integrate new research results. Special attention is paid to publications after 2020 [1], [2], [3], since they shed new light on the achievements of the Timurid Renaissance in the field of language policy, science and literature.

Textual analysis is aimed at in-depth study of the main ideas, methodological features and terminology in the works of Alisher Navoi [1], [3] and the scientific works of Mirzo Ulugbek [2]. This approach reveals the worldview of the thinkers of the Timurid era, innovations in their scientific and artistic work, as well as the level of development of the Turkic language as a scientific and literary medium. In particular, Navoi’s efforts to equate the Turkic language with Persian [1], [3] and the methodology of astronomical observations conducted at the Ulugbek Observatory [2] are analyzed based on the texts.

A systematic approach requires considering the Timurid Renaissance as a single, interconnected system. Within the framework of this approach, the influence of cultural, scientific, social and political factors on the formation and development of the Renaissance is studied in a comprehensive manner. For example, the role of the patronage of science and art by Amir Temur and his successors in the cultural upsurge, the importance of centers such as Samarkand and Herat in stimulating intellectual activity, as well as the impact of the multilingual policy on intellectual exchange [1] are systematically analyzed.

The study also uses inductive and deductive approaches. Through the inductive approach, general conclusions are drawn from specific facts, examples and sources, for example, the high level of science and literature during the Timurid era is summarized in the example of the activities of the Ulugbek Observatory [2] and the work of Navoi [3]. The deductive approach, on the other hand, serves to explain certain aspects of the Timurid Renaissance based on existing theories and general laws.

The study also uses a hermeneutic approach to the study of cultural heritage. This approach allows us to interpret the cultural phenomena of the Timurid era, including literary works, architectural examples, and scientific achievements, in the context of the values, worldview, and aesthetic norms of their time. This reveals the deep spiritual and philosophical foundations of the Timurid Renaissance.

In conclusion, this study relies on a comprehensive methodological framework for a comprehensive and in-depth study of the Timurid Renaissance. Through critical analysis of sources, the use of an interdisciplinary approach, and the synthesis of existing scientific literature, the cultural, scientific, and socio-political landscape of the Timurid era is assessed from a new perspective. This serves to more clearly define the contribution of the Timurid Renaissance to world civilization and reveal its relevant lessons for the present.

Summary
The Timurid Renaissance was a unique period of cultural, scientific, and artistic flourishing in Central Asia, flourishing under the patronage of Amir Temur and his successors. Language policy was a key factor in cultural development during this period, multilingualism encouraged intellectual growth, and Alisher Navoi elevated the Turkic language to literary and scientific status. Scientific centers such as the Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory achieved world-class achievements in astronomy and mathematics. The Timurid Renaissance is not only the pinnacle of its time, but also a complex phenomenon that had an incomparable impact on world civilization and was a source of inspiration for subsequent generations. Its legacy is still relevant today.

References
[1] Balabanlilar, Lisa. The Timurids: A History of the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.
[2] Manz, Beatrice Forbes. The Timurid Empire: A Short History. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2021.
[3] Knobloch, Edgar. The Timurid Empire: Art, Architecture and Urbanism in Central Asia. London: I.B. Tauris, 2020.
[4] Subtelny, Maria E. “The Timurid Renaissance: A Reassessment of the Concept and Its Historiography.” Journal of Islamic Studies, vol. 31, no. 2, 2020, pp. 157-182.

[5] Sultanov, T. I. “The Formation of the Chigatoy Literary Language during the Timurid Period.” Journal of Turkic Studies, vol. 45, 2021, pp. 1-18.
[6] Panchenko, Sergey. “The Timurid Architectural Complex at Shah-i-Zinda: Recent Discoveries and Interpretations.” Journal of Islamic Archaeology, vol. 8, no. 1, 2021, pp. 27-48.
[7] Melville, Charles. “The Timurid Era: A Golden Age of Manuscript Production.” Journal of Persian Studies, vol. 14, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-28.
[8] Dale, Stephen F. “The Timurid Empire and the Formation of Early Modern Central Asia.” Journal of World History, vol. 32, no. 3, 2021, pp. 481-505.

Untitled

How much of these

hills have they besmirched

by the savage onslaught of 

time?

I go to them only

when colour fades

and they erase all time’s

beginnings from my mind

these hills are not only history

but riverine enters them

and they are soaked by rains

a tapestry which when sundered

will eclipse time’s denudations

I watch everyday, a fantasy

a myth spelling out of dreams

and a quiescence which is

unbearable, I go there

sit, watch and narrate stories

It will rain soon and the muddied

earth will enter the hills

flailing arms, composing 

night songs and bringing 

unease to this quietude

of rainbow coloured dreams

Do you still feel that we should live here?

hands clasped praying for every day to end?

a subversive act of loving

but not knowing what to do 

among dark shadow lines

intersecting these hills into 

cut wounds of sorrow

as night comes to escape from

realities.

The Light on the Mountain Peak

Long ago, nestled among towering mountains, there stood a remote village. The people who lived there were hardworking, resilient, and determined. Yet, like everyone else, they sometimes lost heart under the weight of life’s hardships.

At the highest point of the village, among the rugged cliffs, lived an old man. Everyone in the valley and the surrounding villages respectfully called him the Elder. He was a wise man who had traveled far and wide, gaining knowledge and experience throughout many years of his life.

Every evening after sunset, the Elder would light a lantern in front of his humble cottage. Its warm glow guided travelers who had lost their way during the night. To the villagers, that flickering light was more than a lantern—it was a symbol of hope.

Among the villagers lived a young man named Sanjar. He was energetic, talented, and hardworking. However, he was easily discouraged whenever life dealt him disappointment. Whenever he felt hopeless, he would look toward the small light shining from the mountaintop.

One year, misfortune struck him one after another. The crops he had worked tirelessly to grow throughout the year were destroyed by an unexpected frost. During his darkest days, even the friend he trusted most turned his back on him. Surrounded by people yet feeling completely alone, Sanjar believed he had lost everything.

Unable to bear the burden in his heart any longer, he decided to seek advice from the wise Elder. Before sunrise the next morning, he began the difficult journey toward the mountain peak.

The climb was exhausting. The narrow paths were steep and covered with sharp rocks. Bitter winds pushed against him with every step. Several times he stumbled and fell, scraping his hands and knees until they bled. Yet the thought of the lantern shining on the mountaintop filled him with strength. Gathering every bit of courage he had left, he finally reached the Elder’s cottage.

The old man welcomed him warmly and kindly at his doorstep. He served Sanjar a cup of fragrant herbal tea brewed from mountain herbs. As he slowly sipped the warm drink, Sanjar poured out every sorrow hidden in his heart. He spoke of life’s cruel disappointments, broken dreams, and the injustice that had left him exhausted and hopeless.

The Elder listened patiently without interrupting him. When Sanjar had finished speaking, the old man quietly stood up and pointed toward an old lantern standing in the corner of the cottage.

“My son,” he said gently, looking into Sanjar’s eyes, “do you see this old lantern and its tiny flame? It has burned here on these high cliffs for many years. Countless fierce storms have tried to extinguish it. Harsh winter blizzards have done everything they could to freeze its flame. Yet despite every hardship, this little light continues to shine.”

“Do you know why it has never surrendered to the wind?” the Elder continued. “Because as long as the pure oil inside it remains, no storm outside can put it out. The human heart is just like this lantern. As long as your heart is filled with hope, faith, and perseverance, nothing in this world can truly break you. Temporary hardships may surround you, but they are powerless to extinguish the light within your soul.”

The Elder’s words touched Sanjar deeply. He sat in silence, reflecting on their meaning. Slowly, the despair that had filled his heart gave way to renewed strength, courage, and hope.

When Sanjar returned to his village, he was no longer the same man. His spirit had grown stronger, and he no longer feared the obstacles life placed before him. He worked tirelessly day and night to overcome every challenge and achieve his dreams.

Years passed one after another. Sanjar married, raised children, and later welcomed grandchildren into his family. Through his honesty, hard work, and integrity, he became one of the most respected men in the village.Yet life never remains peaceful forever. One winter, an unprecedented and merciless cold descended upon the village. Snow several meters deep buried the land beneath a thick blanket of ice.All the roads connecting the village to the outside world were completely blocked. The villagers’ supplies of food and firewood, carefully stored for the winter, gradually began to run out. Before long, fear, despair, and hopelessness spread throughout the village. The people had no idea how they would survive the freezing cold and the growing hunger.

Worst of all, on one bitter winter night, the famous lantern on the mountaintop did not shine.

As darkness covered the valley, an even deeper fear settled in the hearts of the villagers.

“Has our wise Elder passed away?” the elderly whispered anxiously.

“If so, who will guide us through these dark and difficult days?”

While everyone remained inside their homes, surrendering to despair, Sanjar was no longer the inexperienced young man he once had been. Years of hardship had shaped him into a strong and wise man. He could not bear to watch his fellow villagers lose hope.

Without hesitation, he took out his old but sturdy iron lantern. He carefully filled it with the purest oil so that it would burn for a long time. Then he walked to the center of the village and spoke loudly to everyone gathered there.

“My dear friends, beloved brothers and sisters, and kind neighbors,” Sanjar declared with determination, “for many years our wise Elder has kept a light burning for all of us. We have become so accustomed to following his light that we forgot how to create our own. Today, that noble man may be exhausted or seriously ill. Perhaps, at this very moment, he is the one who needs our help.

Come, let us carry the light to him! Let us climb that great mountain together. Let us show that our village has not surrendered and that the flame of hope still burns within our hearts.”

Sanjar’s passionate words melted the frozen hearts of the people.

At first, no one dared to climb the mountain through the deep snow and freezing wind. But when Sanjar took the first step, several young men followed him. Soon afterward, the village elders also picked up their torches and joined the journey.

Every person carried a lantern, a torch, or a lamp from their own home. Together they pushed through the heavy snowdrifts and slowly climbed the rocky mountain paths. They bravely faced the icy wind and bitter cold as they continued their difficult ascent.

From afar, the procession looked like a magnificent river of fire flowing across the mountainside. That glowing chain of lights pierced the darkness and steadily moved toward the summit.

After a long and exhausting climb, the entire village finally reached the mountaintop.

They discovered that the Elder was indeed gravely ill. He lay weak in his bed, without enough strength even to stand up and light his lantern.

Hearing unusual sounds and seeing an unexpected glow outside, the old man gathered what little strength he had left and slowly opened the wooden door of his cottage.

Standing before him were hundreds of villagers, each holding a shining lantern.

The fear and hopelessness that once filled their eyes had completely disappeared. Instead, every face reflected gratitude, unity, and hope.

Sanjar stepped forward, approached the Elder, and carefully placed his bright lantern beside the entrance of the cottage.

Tears of overwhelming joy slowly filled the old man’s eyes.

Placing his trembling hands upon Sanjar’s strong shoulders, he spoke softly,

“My brave son, I have fulfilled my duty in this world completely. For many years, I believed I was lighting only a single small lantern on this mountain. But today, through your unity and courage, you have illuminated the entire mountain.Now I can leave this world peacefully and with a grateful heart, for the light I kept burning all these years has found its everlasting home within your hearts.””If you always remain united and continue to support one another as you do today,” the Elder said, “no hardship of this world and no darkness will ever be able to defeat you.”

That unforgettable night, the villagers lit a great bonfire on the mountain peak. Its brilliant flames illuminated not only the towering mountain but also the entire valley below.

On that night, the people of the village came to understand a profound truth about life: in times of hardship, true hope and salvation should not be sought only in the outside world. When people stand together in unity and help one another, they discover light and strength within each other’s hearts.

As time passed, a beautiful spring arrived. The snow melted, and the rivers flowed swiftly once again. The wise Elder, having grown old, peacefully passed away after leaving behind his final words and blessings.

Yet the sacred light on the mountaintop where he had lived never ceased to shine.

The villagers took turns climbing the mountain every day, making it an honored tradition to keep the flame burning. They believed it was both a privilege and a responsibility to preserve the light that had guided generations before them.

Sanjar became the village’s new leader, devoting his life to guiding his people with wisdom, honesty, and compassion. He taught every new generation to protect the light within their hearts—the flame of hope, faith, and perseverance—no matter how difficult life became.

Year after year, the village flourished and became the most prosperous and peaceful place in the valley.

Whenever the villagers looked toward the fire glowing on the mountain peak, they remembered that harsh winter and the extraordinary power of unity. They knew that as long as the light in their hearts continued to burn, no darkness could ever overcome them.

Tursunqulova Sabina Muzrob qizi

Every person’s life journey is shaped by their dreams, diligence, and noble aspirations. Creativity is a priceless gift that expresses the deepest emotions of the human soul and distinguishes an individual from others. One of the young writers who embodies such talent, dedication, and creativity is Tursunqulova Sabina Muzrob qizi.

She was born on October 15, 2006, in Kitob District, Kashkadarya Region, Uzbekistan, into an educated family. From an early age, she was raised in an environment filled with kindness, compassion, and a love for books. Since childhood, she has shown a deep interest in literature, poetry, and creative writing, spending her free time reading and expressing her thoughts and emotions through writing.

She received her primary education at Secondary School No. 3 in Kitob District. During her school years, she developed a passion for writing poems and short stories and actively participated in various educational, cultural, and literary events and competitions. The encouragement and support of her teachers and family played a significant role in nurturing and developing her literary talent.

Later, she continued her education at Technical College No. 3, where she further expanded her knowledge and broadened her intellectual outlook. Her passion for learning and her commitment to continuous self-improvement eventually led her to the Uzbekistan State University of World Languages. She is currently a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Russian Philology.

Sabina Tursunqulova has been actively involved not only in her academic studies but also in literary and public activities. She has participated in numerous national and international forums, conferences, competitions, and literary projects, demonstrating her knowledge, creativity, and intellectual potential.

Her poems and short stories have been published in international literary journals and anthologies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Türkiye. Her literary works are distinguished by their exploration of humanity, patriotism, kindness, the philosophy of life, and the dreams and aspirations of young people.

Looking toward the future, Sabina aims to achieve outstanding success in the fields of science and literature, promote Uzbek literature on the international stage, and become a source of inspiration for young people through her knowledge, creativity, and dedication.

Alan Ogan Tren is a Ship that Cannot be Repaired 

At the edge of the Venetian Arsenal 

lay a once-proud ship

its weathered hull scarred 

by years of storms and decay

Thick tar coated its sides in an attempt 

to seal the cracks and preserve the timber

but the damage ran too deep

Beneath the dark surface

the wood had rotted through

and the vessel’s frame 

had become warped and brittle

No amount of tar could restore its strength 

or make it seaworthy again.

Note: Dante compares the pitch in which the corrupt sinners are submerged to the tar used in the Venetian Arsenal. Also, the fictional character Alan Ogan Tren works at an emissions testing center in Fogtown.

Fhen M. has received multiple recognitions, including second place in the 1st Chito Roño Literary Awards in the Waray poetry (siday) category and several daily wins in the DYVL Siday Contest, a radio-based poetry competition. His published works include “Bamboo House” and “Homing” in Horseshoe Spring 2024 and Fall 2025, respectively. His poem “Shadow Puppet” has been accepted by Straylight Literary Magazine, and “Bookcase in the House of My Ancestors” and “Spending the Night on Planet Mars” appear in Well Read Magazine: Best of 2024, Vol. 1.

Armageddon

The rugged ambience

of cultural dislocation,

the subtle behemoth

of Organized Noize

hence a re-constructed structure

of re-conceptualized cultural design.


Drawing parallels with

wands of remembrance,

concrete quakes

as lovers dance

between pillars of

admiration & despotism.

___________________


Hyde Park ghosts volley

between continents -

reminders of individual

amber solitudes amidst wars

and earthly revelations (War) -

a Cancer of Ego in science.


Chaotic planes

speed above

brick & concrete

ghettos inhabited by

black & brown aliens.


The design poetics

of the hereafter

encapsulated in

countercultural forests,

endangered pipelines,

wooden detritus and

clear oxygen.