There are good things too!
Friends and acquaintances who loved us true,
Beloved birds chirping with cheerful glee,
Once again on that shore, sands askew,
Love's feast they've set, inviting you and me.
See how long it's been since our paths diverged,
No arrivals, no tidings brought our way,
Sweet desires dwindling, barely emerged,
Arriving at your intent, missing the day.
Frail souls, blinded by grudges and spite,
One day the wedding you boasted will rot,
Fueled by hatred and greed's endless fight,
The jug will shatter, unable to be sought.
Let's momentarily forget the days that passed,
Observe the skies, the moonlit night's dance,
Shake off the dust, let go of the past,
Rooting our hearts anew, in this fresh chance.
Elmaya Jabbarova - was born in Azerbaijan. She is poet, writer, reciter, translator. Her poems were published in the regional newspapers «Shargin sesi», «Ziya», «Hekari», literary collections «Turan», «Karabakh is Azerbaijan!», «Zafar», «Buta», foreign Anthologies «Silk Road Arabian Nights», «Nano poem for
Africa», «Juntos por las Letras 1;2», «Kafiye.net» in Turkey, in the African's CAJ magazine, Bangladesh's Red Times magazine, «Prodigy Published» magazine. She performed her poems live on Bangladesh Uddan TV, at the II Spain Book Fair 1ra Feria Virtual del Libro Panama, Bolivia, Uruguay, France, Portugal, USA.
Evil Brothers
Once upon a time two brothers lived in a village. The elder brother was very hardworking but the younger brother never worked. They had a cow farm. There were ten cows in the farm. Five younger brothers and five elder brothers. The elder brother used to take care of ten cows alone and the younger brother used to rest all day. If the milk of ten cows were sold the younger brother would take half of the money. This continued for several years. One day suddenly the elder brother got upset and said, "I can’t handle your cow anymore." This
started a fight between the two brothers. After the quarrel was over the elder brother decided to sell his cows and go abroad. So that day he sold his cows. On the other hand the younger brother decided to kill his elder brother’s cows. So he went to the farm at midnight
and killed five cows. Next morning his elder brother told him good bye and went abroad.
Hearing the younger brother said “Where did you get the money to go abroad?” The elder brother said he had sold the cows. Hearing this, the younger brother ran to the farm and saw the dead cows and started crying. And said what happened to me while harming to others.
Moral lesson: If you want to harm others, you harm yourself.
Ali Haider is a student of grade 7 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.
Heavy rain has been falling continuously for several hours. Since it started raining, Robiyabibi was also sitting in front of the window staring at the patter of the rain.
Robiyabibi’s heart was filled with sadness, as if looking at the rain would wash away the wards in her heart. He was so engrossed in such thoughts that he did not even notice Madina’s entrance. He thought only of his words “it’s raining beautifully”. Rabiyabibi looked at Madina as if she had woken up from sleep and said:
– That’s the rain. With its beautiful rain, it has become a habit to wash away the wards in people’s hearts, – said Robiyabibi thoughtfully.
– Oh, how did you know? Madina said jokingly
– It’s just visible. Everyone knows that. Just like my mom is a doctor.
– Well, then why does nobody know your profession? Madina said
– I don’t have a profession, I’m still just a student
– In the future?
Robiyabibi looked at Madina and thought.
– My future profession… – he thought and:
– Come on, Madina Khan, let’s hear from you first, – said Robiyabibi in a sarcastic tone.
“It’s better to say that it’s not clear yet,” he said, and Madina became serious.
This conversation soon spread to Robiyabibi’s school. Now everyone was laughing at Robiyabibi. Madina, who was the closest, laughed at him and belittled him as “useless”. Even his teachers looked at him with pity.
One day they humiliated Robiyabibi and made fun of her. She left the class crying. While she was walking on the road crying, she did not see the car coming and was hit by a car…
People gathered quickly. Robiyabibi was taken away by Ambulance. But it was too late.
In an instant, the gathered people dispersed in an instant, and there was hardly anyone left on the street. However, on a single crumpled piece of paper, written in large letters, were these words:
“RESPECTFUL OF WHO A MAN WILL BE IN THE FUTURE, WHAT OCCUPATION HE WILL HAVE, HE SHOULD ALWAYS ACQUIRE HUMANITY.
With Notes of Irony
Call it dogged by bad luck.
Call it a fool’s prophecy.
Call it fate lighting a cigarette
after it fucks you in the arse.
Call it an albatross around your neck.
Call it an ancestral curse.
Blame it on crossing paths with a black cat.
Blame it on your astrological sign.
Blame it on the neighbour who dabbles
in witchcraft. Blame it on the devil.
Blame it on your treacherous spouse
for opening an umbrella
inside the house. Blame it on a bad penny.
Blame it on a broken mirror.
Blame it on the politician you elected.
Blame it on old age.
Blame it on the youth of today.
Say to yourself you deserve it all.
Say it with gusto.
Say it’s one giant goat rodeo.
Say it’s too late to turn it around.
Say it while donning the paint of a tragic clown.
Say it with self-entitlement.
But for pity’s sake, never say
it’s the sum of your choices.
I CAN NEVER LOSE YOU
Age never mattered when it came to our love
or what treasures we had stored up in our hearts
Only your heart would understand my whispers
The storm in you rages when we are alone
And there is no doubt of the feelings that I have for you.. so special
In my life, I have suffered losses; people and things I loved
I lived through each one, although it was hard at times
Moments ago I lost myself to you and am lost in you now
But to ever lose you would put me over the edge.
I can't even think of it....
IF ONLY FOR NOW
Walk with me if only for now
Wherever life takes us is home
These moments are precious
and life could end without notice
Dreams can come true or die
I have always been with your through time
I was the shadow that waited from afar
Did you not notice me on a sunny day or
hear my whisper in your ear through a warm breeze?
You could not see me in the past, but I am your future
Only the time we have been given is guaranteed
I will walk with you until we get to that fork in the road
Whether in reality or dreams... either way you'll be mine.
YOUR SWEETEST DREAM
I pretend to not see you look my way
I sigh because the love you have for me is so deep.
You take my breath away when you come towards me
My love for you only grows and I can't imagine myself
ever being without you...
Always take me with you
I long for you to always drown my life with your love
There is nothing you can give me that is worth more than that
I never fear what is in our future, whether joy or sorrow.
As long as we do it together is all that matters to me...
Never leave
And I pray you will always love me as your Sweetest Dream...
Hold me closer
THE REALIZATION OF LOVE
You might not be looking for it, and at times you even try to run from it.
But sometimes it just happens.
You look at each other, you smile, and you just know ...
When love happens, you can't stop it.
Suddenly, life feels a lot brighter and happier.
You become aware of his smile when he looks at the little things about you.
And those little things become the poetry in his heart that he had been missing. Those little things also taught him how to love.
ON EVERY PAGE
On every page of our life together
I will sign my name
because your heart belongs to me,
just as with every memory we share
You appear in every poem I write,
and in every angelic song that I have sweetly whispered in your ear
True, is every love story we've lived
My smile is intentional
for you are mine
Every heartbeat keeps in time with the music of our rhythmic nights
You are my Everywhere and my Always.
Bio:
Kristy Ann Raines is an American poet and author born in Oakland California, USA. Kristy has five books which will soon be published. One anthology with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai, will launch sometime in October 2023 called, “I Cross my Heart from East to West.” She has also written two fantasy books entitled, “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and The Lion”, a collection of poems in English,” Walking Without You”, a collection in French, “Little Rose Poetry”, and one in Arabic called, “Jasmine and Roses", to be released in the future. Kristy has received many literary awards for her unique style of writing.
Ah, Death
Once, Death was a fearful word
Cutting life with unrelenting sword
Cold and stiff, underground to hoard
Some naked, more in varnished board
All that's living, Death eventually lord
No one can choose on own accord
The time to willingly cut the cord
But then, is Death really just an end?
The goal straight, no one can bend?
How can broken hearts be mend?
Where to, grieving prayers can send?
Gathering that one must attend
Careful that words will not offend
Comfort and strength to lend.
Death is not the end, but a beginning
From cold winter, comes the spring
New trails for green meadows bring
Knot or unknot the old with new string
Death, must the living yearn or fear?
Emotions and ambitions to stir
The future, sure yet vaguely unclear.
Nah, nah, nah.
Everyone needs someone to love,
Everyone needs someone who'll love.
Coz we're human needing humans
That ain't wrong nor weird
We're not crazy, we're not weirdos
We're social creatures not bimbos
That ain't wrong, so it goes
A Lone Wolf searching for a pack
Home waiting for my coming back
That ain't wrong to lack
Wanting wings for my head to tuck
Family feathers not wanting to pluck
That ain't wrong to wish luck
Nah nah nah
That ain't wrong nor weird
That ain't wrong, so it goes
That ain't wrong to lack
That ain't wrong to wish luck
Everyone needs someone to love,
Everyone needs someone who'll love.
Searching, wishing for one true love.
Nah, nah, nah, normal ones
Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa was born January 14, 1965, in Manila Philippines. She has worked as a retired Language Instructor, interpreter, caregiver, secretary, product promotion employee, and private therapeutic masseur. Her works have been published as poems and short story anthologies in several language translations for e-magazines, monthly magazines, and books; poems for cause anthologies in a Zimbabwean newspaper; a feature article in a Philippine newspaper; and had her works posted on different poetry web and blog sites. She has been writing poems since childhood but started on Facebook only in 2014. For her, Poetry is life and life is poetry.
Lilian Kunimasa considers herself a student/teacher with the duty to learn, inspire, guide, and motivate others to contribute to changing what is seen as normal into a better world than when she steps into it. She has always considered life as an endless journey, searching for new goals, and challenges and how she can in small ways make a difference in every path she takes. She sees humanity as one family where each one must support the other and considers poets as a voice for truth in pursuit of equality and proper stewardship of nature despite the hindrances of distorted information and traditions.
A Good Citizen
A good citizen is one who does good works in society. He must have some good qualities. He is conscious, dutiful and active. Again he must have the qualities of truthfulness, honesty and tolerance. He must have proper education. He must also be able to apply his knowledge. So, he needs skills to do things. He must maintain discipline in society. He has to abide by the laws of the country to maintain social peace and happiness. He loves his country and country people more than his life. He does nothing against the interest of his country. In fact, citizen having character live a life of virtue. So, he is a good citizen.
Iftikhar Zaman Ononno is a student of grade 7 in Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh.
