Black Iraqi Woman

Shortly before my father died, he whispered to me longingly: “Daughter, treasure this, because it authenticates your heritage to our kinsfolk!” When I accepted this object, I discovered it was a stone with inscriptions I did not understand and delicate, mysterious lines. He continued, “It is a keepsake from our great-great grandfather and can ultimately be traced back to Bilal, the Holy Prophet’s first muezzin, and his father, who was the king of Ethiopia.” I accepted this small heirloom, which I carried everywhere with me in my handbag.

The person who shared my life under the title of “husband,” however, threw it down the drain at our house, thinking—as he told me—that it was a fetish. From then till now I have endured successive exiles. So I wrote this poem to explain the secret of my skin color—given that I am a native of al-Najaf, Iraq—spiritually, mournfully, and poetically!

My father said: “You were born quite unexpectedly, Remote from Aksum, like a beauty spot for al-Najaf—‘the Virgin’s Cheek.’

Your one obsession has been writing, but the sea will run dry before you arrive at the meaning of meaning.”

He affirmed: “During a pressing famine,

I devoted myself to watching over every breath you took.

I would thrust my hand through the film of hope

To caress your spirit with bread.

You would burp, and

I would delightedly endure my hunger and fall asleep.

I could only find the strength to fib to your face and say I was happy.

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I would feel devastated when you fidgeted,

Because you would always head toward me,

And I felt helpless.”

Aksum! They say you’re far away!

“No, it’s closer to you than your exile.”

“And now?”

“Don’t talk about ‘now’ while we’re living it.”

“The future depresses me. How can I proceed?”

How can the ear be deaf to the wailing from the streets?

Aksum, you have colored my skin. Al-Najaf has freshened my spirit.

She knows and does the opposite.

She knows that I inter only dirt above me, and

That I deny everything except spelling out words:

M: Mother, who went walking down the alley of no return.

F: Father, who hastened after her.

B: Brother, who never earned that title.

S: Sister who buttoned her breast to a loving tear, no matter how fake.

………………….There’s no one I care about!

The trees tremble some times, and we don’t ask why.

My life surrounds me the way prison walls surround suspects;

I am the victim of a building erected by a frightened man.

With its talons time scratches its tales on me,

And I transform them into a silent song

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Or, occasionally, a psalm of sobs.

Father, do you believe that–the roots have been torn asunder?

Fantasies began to carry me from al-Najaf to Afyon

And from Afyon to nonexistence,

Yellow teeth stretching all the way.

“History’s not anything you’ve made,”

One American neighbor tells another.

He’s surprised to see me.

“Who are you?” he asks when he doesn’t believe his eyes.

Would he understand the truth of my origin if I told him I was born in al-Najaf

Or that Aksum has veiled my face?

I have walked and walked and walked.

I’m exhausted, Father.

Is your child mine?

Show yourself and return me to the purity of your loins.

Allow me to occupy the seventh vertebra of fantasy!

Don’t eject me into a time I don’t fit.

I need you.

I ask you:

Has my Lord forbidden me to be happy?

Am I forbidden to preserve

What I have left

And sit some warm evening

4

Averting my ear from a voice that doesn’t interest me?

Answer me, Father!

Or change the face of our garden

So it changes . . . .to what they believe!

She is a poet, teacher, editor, writer, and playwright born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1967, who now lives in the United States. Faleeha was the first woman to write poetry for children in Iraq. She received her master’s degree in Arabic literature, and has now published 26 books, her poems have been translated into English, Turkmen, Bosnian, Indian, French, Italian, German, Kurdish, Spain, Korean, Greek, Serbia, Albanian, Pakistani, Romanian, Malayalam, Chinese, ODIA, Nepali and Macedonian language. She is a Pulitzer Prize Nominee for 2018, PushCaret Prize Nomination 2019 and a member of the International Writers and Artists Association.

Winner of the Women of Excellence Inspiration award from SJ magazine 2020.

Winner of the Grand Jury Award (the Sahitto International Award for Literature 2021)

One of the Women of Excellence selection committee members – 2023

Winner of Women in the Arts award 2023

Member of Who’s Who in America 2023

SAHITTO AWARD, JUDGING PANEL 2023

Cultural Ambassador – Iraq, USA

Email : d.fh88@yahoo.com

Sia

Sia in the music industry is the seer
And you don’t need any beer
To hear
Her heart wrenching dulcet tones that as l pen this piece are here

I can see the rainbow
We will take a bow
For her crafty work which are like a drawn bow
Ready to spring into action of taking and sweeping the masses of their feet, wow

She has the gall to raise her voice at a falsetto pitch
That will have those with the temerity to emulate her ditch it
Her songs do not have any kind of glitch
As electronic executed they are perfectly flawless and you won’t flinch

Instead you will sing along at the top of your voice
It will melt even the ice
You will have a paradise slice
Listening at Sia’s vocals at no exorbitant price  


Makhadzisa

She sings like a bird
And her songs continue to be heard and played
She is the queen of the Venda born and bred
With teachings that value families and how they should be fed

We will continue to sing her praise
Because she sings with so much grace
Touching the hearts of the young and old, vanquishing dread
As the music flows in our bodies, tightly and loosely clad

Such kind of music is for the Gods
This is why we listen in hordes
Addicted to her tunes on repeat in spades
Glad that there are still singers that inspires confidence in the trade

All hail Makhadzisa
A symbol of how hard work pays
For that reason she is here to stay
And naysayers are not going to do anything about it, nay

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Abigirl Phiri is a Zimbabwean prolific writer and a voracious reader. She interviews poet features in both the Mt. Kenya Times daily paper and the Diaspora Times Global weekly paper. More of her spoken word poetry can be found her YouTube channel Wordsareforever8462.

Rafiul Islam

Magical Book 

A long time ago, when I was studying in Chapainawabganj Government High School, we wanted to go on a class study tour. But our teacher was saying that education tour is not possible at that moment. But they will talk to the head teacher and try their best to take us on the educational tour. Several days passed after that. Then suddenly one day at the beginning of class, our class teacher gave us a good news. Our class teacher told us that the headmaster has given permission to take us on the educational tour. However, he asked the teachers and students to fix a place together. At that time, many people were confused where to go. But finally we decided to go Mohasthan Garh. But some of our classmates were saying that they want to go but their parents won't give permission. So, our class teacher talked to their parents. Finally their parents allowed them to go. Then our day goes by.

 On the day we left for the educational tour. We left at 10 am and arrived at the spot at 3 pm. We were all tired, so no one went back. The next day we were touring the whole Mohasthan Garh from morning. When the sun was right above our head, we all were going back to have lunch. But then a strange statue fell in front of me. I approached the memorial and looked around the statue.

Then an open book caught my eye on the back of the statue. Teacher Aman was calling me when I took the book. I didn't tell the teacher about the book at that time. Then we left for home in the evening. Then it was too late after returning home so I didn't open the book. The next day I opened the book and after opening the book I saw that there was nothing written on it. I thought someone's book might have gone there by mistake. And I put the book on my reading table. After that I turned off the light in my room and slept. In such a situation, suddenly a colorful light starts to shine from the book. I was very surprised. But I opened the book somehow. When I opened the book, there were many writings floating there, but the writings seemed to be of an ancient language. I wasn't awake much longer. I took the book to my teacher the next day. I told him everything. He heard all this and told me that there might be some secret which shouldn't be revealed. So, we should keep it in the museum. So Amika and my teacher left the book in the museum. Maybe the book is of some use to them.


Md Rafiul Islam is a student of grade 7 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.

CHOIR PRACTICE IN ANTALYA!!! (MUSIC NOURISHES THE SOUL)

In Antalya, the choir ensemble named THM and Folk Music Night, led by my dear friends Ali Gardaş and his wife Selma Gardaş, has returned to the stage after a long season break, starting their choir rehearsals on September 17, 2023. Comprised of elite artists who are passionate about music, the choir, under the direction of Ali Gardaş, captivated the audience while performing new pieces from their repertoire. They also made significant contributions to the world music culture. Therefore, inspired by the saying ‘Music is the nourishment of the soul,’ our ancestors used music to treat many illnesses. Music is not only nourishment for the soul but also a significant art form that motivates the heart. It can assist in the treatment and recovery of various illnesses, including expediting the healing process of heart conditions by normalizing heart rhythms and regulating blood pressure. Music, considered the best painkiller, plays a crucial role in alleviating and reducing pain.

Furthermore, according to scientists, music has a profound impact on the body’s value systems. Music also accelerates positive cultural change, guiding individuals toward new roles and lifestyles. As an important educational and communication tool, music significantly aids individuals in integrating into society. For example, although I may not understand the language of musicians such as Mita Hogue, Muhammed Milon from Bangladesh, Fakir Alemgir, Kanika Kapoor, Shreya Ghosal from India, Muhammed Reza and Kayhan Kalhor from Iran, and American musician Elvis Presley, listening to their music soothes my soul. In this regard, the need for government support for music is increasing day by day. Now, let’s list the quotes of famous figures, including Atatürk, about music:

Additionally, the quotes of Atatürk and other celebrities about music and art are quite meaningful: ‘A nation’s renewal is measured by its ability to accept change, including in music. A nation without art has severed one of its lifeblood vessels. The distinguished Turkish nation, which is an elevated community, also has a unique characteristic in history: its love for fine arts and its pursuit of excellence in them.’ -Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

1. Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul. (Plato)
2. Music is the most transparent language of emotions. (Emil Zeig)
3. Music is the harmony between heaven and earth. (Confucius)
4. When things go awry on the world stage, the orchestra comes into play. (Kari Kraus)
5. If you want to enslave a nation, corrupt their music. (Confucius)

Music is very powerful, my young friends. It takes us to our memories, influences our mood, and determines our attitude towards the problems we encounter. (Sharon Draper)

Music rules the world. (Martin Luther)

Music is the paradise of the poor. (Emerson)

Music should enflame the hearts of men and bring tears to the eyes of women.

Music is such a vast sea that I have rolled up my pants, but I still haven’t entered it.

Music is the nourishment of the soul. (Mendelssohn)

Music is another planet. (Daudet)

On this occasion, it was up to me to perform an Azerbaijani Turkish song.”

 I also wanted to share with you that.

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Yahya Azeroğlu was born on October 24, 1955, as the second of nine siblings in the village of Yukarı Topraklı (Alkızıl) in the Aralık district of Iğdır, Turkey. He began his education in this region. In 1970, Yahya Azeroğlu and his family migrated to Turgutlu, a district in Manisa, Turkey. Afterward, he went to Germany, where he received two years of German language education. He returned to Turkey in 1984.

Upon his return, Yahya Azeroğlu established the Poets and Writers Association and served as its president for 15 years. Within this framework, he continued to engage in cultural activities. He has published eight books and maintained close ties with the Turkic world. Yahya Azeroğlu has received around 105 awards for his cultural activities. He is a member of the Azerbaijan Writers Union and was honored with the Turan Medal in Kyrgyzstan. He has won numerous poetry competitions and was recognized as an Honorary Professor in Azerbaijan. His life and work have been the subject of theses by university students, including those from Celal Bayar University in Manisa and Akdeniz University.

Yahya Azeroğlu, who has four children (two sons and two daughters), currently serves as the General President of the Turkish World Arts and Culture Center (Tüsküm), headquartered in Antalya, where he continues his cultural activities.

Electronic Music

Electronica is the term for various genres of electronic music built with samplers, synthesizers, and drum machines. Many of these electronic genres are part of dance music festivals worldwide. Other genres of electronica are non-dance music for close listening. In the United Kingdom, electronica typically describes music that listeners consume via headphones and a home stereo system, or as soundtracks to movies and video games.

In the UK, also, electronica is also a catch-all term to describe club music, genres such as EDM, system pop, electro, electronic pop drum and bass, and trip hop. Consequently electronic music, broadly known as electronica, has evolved in conjunction with advances in synthesizer, sampler, and drum machine technology.

The earliest forms of popular electronica were developed in the 1960s-1970s. Jamaican DJs spun records of reggae, backing tracks without the vocals, creating music and dance known as din. Around this time in Europe, artists Mike Kraftwerk, Mike Oldfield, and Alan Persons Project began.