Yearning Land In lands afar, where shadows fall, A refugee’s heart, it bears the call, To reminisce of motherland’s embrace, In distant lands, a new life we chase. Our eyes still hold the memories dear, Of homeland’s beauty, once so near, But fate has led them to these shores, Where dreams are forged on distant mores. We long for the scent of native soil, The songs of birds, the daily toil, Yet resilience grows in refugee’s heart, As we strive to make a brand-new start. With hope, we carry our homeland’s grace, A tapestry of memories, time cannot erase, For in our journey, we have found, Strength in unity, on common ground. Though we’ve left our past behind, A refugee’s spirit, resilient and kind, We cherish what was, and what will be, A testament to the human spirit, wild and free. Sayedur Rahman is from Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camp and the author of "Echoes of Home".
Category Archives: CHAOS
Poetry from Ari Nystrom-Rice
Once I was
Once I was
A super starry
The tension
Before
A boat made out of
Cracking sticks
And sturdy twine
Hit the water of a kiddie pool
A sun
About to (ex)(im)plode
Warping like a
Lupine Blooming
Living in another ripple
Behind my pale blue eyes
The time it lived
Irrelevant to the not;
Yet it is infinite and rapid
A reflection upon the rushing river below me
Seen in my eyes
Through my eyes
A boy
Trying to be
Blind and all knowing
Now a ——
Unknowing and changed
Now I am a curiosity
Unknowing and changed.
Poetry from Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa
HIV-AIDS H ow can one person condemn another I gnorance does superstitions gather V irus to fear, no right for spirit to shatter A cquired illness reason to ostracize in society I ndifferent to afflicted's pains and tragedy D evoid of compassion and acts of humanity S hame on us AIDS knows no diversity Whatever reasons there may be Infected ones need not our pity We are needed to show empathy To be just there for them our moral duty One can't be infected with mere touch of care Support and love definitely can share Put your feet in their shoes if you dare Not just risks but their plight be aware Butac Memories Dad's from South, with fields of sugar, corn and rice Mom's from North, with mountains, cliffs and rivers rise I was born and raised here in the city of vice Grew up with telephones, teevee tubes and toys from mall Bored of movies, fastfoods and buildings tall Hotels, gymns and 50% sale stall Still I would have loved to be in the mountain Bumpy road ride through rocky terrain On hand cart, who needs horses with brawny Uncle in the rain Rudimentary lifestyle, no electricity strings, Bamboo pipe water from mountain springs Ghost and monster scares round wood fire rings Forget about land hole stairs. Luck for balance, go home in pairs House slumping up the trail, no gates- no cares Cousins with practical tricks under sleeves Care for itchy oozey barks and thorny leaves Faires and mermaids Grandma's voice weaves Break the fast by the firewood oven before ten Lunch of river froglets and exotic dish, Aunt Mary's kitchen Dinner higher up the mountains with Uncle Eugene Just a couple weeks of rare vacation Back to Manila lowlands for education Tears and clinging hugs for lifetime devotion Mountain ranges surreal nostalgic City born life a childhood tragic Land just below the skies is pure magic 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.
Pieces from Jacques Fleury
ReXsume
By Jacques Fleury
[Originally published in Fleury’s book You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self]
Objective: Seeking a position to be over, under or next to someone;
Willing to fill any opening or position…
Education: Certificate of participation in “group” activities
Experience: Been around the block a few times…
Skills: Can touch my lower stomach without using my hands
Achievements: Never been arrested for seX crimes
Hobbies: All things done in the dark
References: See attached list for numbers of satisfied customers!
The Only Way to See the Stars…
By Jacques Fleury
[Originally published in Fleury’s book You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self]
I often wonder why I smile even when sad
Thudding of my heart hearkening back
To recidivist scars running my fingers
Over the scabs abrading the cut of the
Blade and making my way in a world full
Of hurt people who hurt people
A pejorative and abortive choice
So smiling instead of snarling helps me
Remember even if bliss turns to distress
To see the stars is through the darkness…
Possible Causes and Effects of Cited High Blood Pressure
By Jacques Fleury
[Originally published in Fleury’s book You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self]
If your Father died of heart disease
If you have Sleep Apnea
If you have irregular sleeping schedule
If you are overweight
If you have a late night binge eating habit
If you take caffeinated Energy Supplements
If you Drink Caffeinated Tea and Hot Chocolate
If you Use heavily salted spices like Chicken Bouillon Cubes
If you’re not getting enough “regular” cardio exercise
If you’re inconsistent with your daily meditation practice
If you ruminate about the past: its afflictions and perceived malfeasances
If you harbor resentments regarding sociopolitical and racial injustices
If you feel constant stings of Minority Stress through Micro Aggressions of racism
If you are BLACK!
Random Musings about Submission
By Jacques Fleury
[Originally published in Fleury’s book You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self]
Let’s just begin in
medias res…or in the middle of things…
You see, we had artistic differences,
I was the artist and they were indifferent…
“Thank you for your submission…” but I never
Submitted!
At least not in the way that they wanted me to;
If I wasn’t fiscally challenged, I would board a jet plane
And head for a luge run at Saint Moritz Switzerland,
A psychotically dangerous sport;
Maybe they’ve driven me to psychosis!
Luge, a sport rooted in Germanic tribal wars against the Romans;
Bored aristocrats on vacation looking for a distraction;
Although I am distracted by my own tribal war here in America,
I am nothing like a bored and puerile aristocrat…
This landed me in a mawkish quagmire of self-pity;
In my mind I absconded into a journey of devilment to topple my torment;
Writing can be an exercise in discernment that you are inevitably
Obliged to submit for judgment; that is if you expect to make
An impact other than justifying your own derangement due to
Maladjustment…
“Your writing is not a good fit for our publication” was the nadir of my existence!!!
What did I write to warrant such specious offerings you may ask?
Well I wrote from the voice of an ignoble omnivorous muskrat
Whose sexual identify is non-binary;
Both a strumpet and a sthumpet!
And as an exponent of socio-political justice wrote hither and thither
An apocalyptic reverie about mutant muskrats;
A germane allegory or political fodder for the purpose of unveiling
pejorative prejudice;
Deciding to introduce a foreign element into an established
Yet insecure environment so to demonstrate the ensuing behavior
Of those who deem themselves superior;
The muskrat representing the only POC or person of color
In an all-white order where WASPS Rule!
WASPS being descendants of
Wealthy Anglo-Saxon Protestant Males
Feeling their long history of imposing their cultural values and
Socio-political power over “the other” that is
women and minorities…
Threatened by a neo-progressive era geared towards changing the status quo;
Clamping down on their suppression in retaliation to the
Nascent and unrelenting movement towards socio-political
And economic progression and equality
In this American Nation!
“Thank you for your submission
But your work is not a good fit for our publication…”
Really?!
So here I am, randomly musing about not being chosen…
Am I just a titular poet?
A deuteragonist in my own story?
When do I get to be the protagonist hero despite my AFRO?!
When do I get to be the plucky character in epics akin to
19th century iconoclastic South African king Shaka Zulu whose heroic story depicted
How he united tribal factions to create notable states and powerful African identities…or even
Anglo-Saxon and French epics like Beowulf together with Le Chanson De Roland?
Or even the archetypal Mesopotamian great:
The Epic of Gilgamesh;
Regarded as the earliest prototypical literature and the second oldest religious text…
“Your submission is not on par with our vision…”
Really?!
Even in the midst of global
Dissention and division?!
So we had artistic differences…I was the artist and they were indifferent.
But I decided to muse about it to manufacture
My own moment,
Fashion my own non-contentious and all-inclusive literary faction,
Where ALL postulatory voices are worthy of publication;
Because the acrimony of exclusivity is
A damnation!
I will continue to submit but NEVER to their behest for
Submission!!!
Jacques Fleury is a Boston Globe featured Haitian-American Poet, Author, Educator and literary arts student at Harvard University online. His latest book “You Are Enough: The Journey to Accepting Your Authentic Self” and other titles are available at all Boston Public Libraries, the University of Massachusetts Healey Library, University of Wyoming , The Harvard Book Store, The Grolier Poetry Bookshop, amazon etc… He has been published in prestigious publications such as Muddy River Poetry Review, the Cornell University Press anthology Class Lives: Stories from Our Economic Divide, Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene among others…Visit him at: http://www.authorsden.com/jacquesfleury.
Poetry from Mashhura Usmonova
Great birds
In the search of warm places,
Where are you going again?
Oh, cranes please get back,
And build the home of affection in heart.
Do not be afraid from the first fallen leaf,
Do not fly away, great birds.
Want to see a familiar face,
Birds like me whose hearts are burnt.
I follow you from behind,
All of you are leaving happily.
But remember I will wait,
Wait for you to come to me.
But I got upset from you, I have to say,
Listen to me hey, cranes.
One of your friends that has fallen from the row,
Is struggling, do not you see?!
And you, you are being just reckless,
Maybe it had the same intention as you.
The injured bird kept looking,
Looking long, from your back.
Oh great birds, great birds,
Burnt- heart- birds just like me.
Despite being unfaithful like humans,
Still, everyone loves you all.
Mashhhura Usmonova Zafarjon’s daughter was born on May 16, 2006 in Gallaorol district, Jizzakh region the Republic of Uzbekistan. Currently 16 years old. She has been practicing writing poetry since her 10 years old. Now, she is author of about 100 poems. She is member of the international organizations Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Argentina and India. In 2019, the author’s book of poetry entitled “Happy Childhood Message” was published. In 2022, the second author’s book of poetry entitled “Letter…” was put up for 26 countries under the Amazon online store of the United States. In addition, her works have been published in book collections of the United States of America, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Germany, Thailand, Canada, UK, Kenya and Moldova. She likes to read books and travel. Her future goal is to become a philologist.
Poetry from Paul Callus and Christina Chin
cry of a newborn - the aroma of chicken broth wafting from next-door the feelgood sensation of a sated mum bikja ta’ tarbija tat-twelid – tinxtamm ġejja m’għand il-ġara l-aroma ta’ brodu tat-tiġieġa is-sensazzjoni pjacevoli ta’ omm sodisfatta 新生儿哭声 邻家飘来 鸡汤香气 饱腹娘 良好感觉 Christina Chin (Malaysia) / Paul Callus (Malta) [Maltese translation by Paul Callus (Malta)] [Chinese translation by Agnes Chin (Malaysia)] ---------------------------- meraki strokes of passion on canvas the ink of a calligraphy master meraki pinzellati passjonali fuq it-tila il-linka ta’ mgħallem tal-kaligrafija meraki 激情笔触 画布上 书法师 的墨水 Paul Callus (Malta) / Christina Chin (Malaysia) [Maltese translation by Paul Callus (Malta)] [Chinese translation by Agnes Chin (Malaysia)]
Poetry from Noah Berlatsky
I Should Do Work Now
I should do work now.
But I don’t want to do work.
I should do work now.
I should do work now.
But I don’t want to do work.
Checking social media feels like work.
I should do work now.
Checking social media feels like work.
I should do work now.
Eating is something you need to do.
Eating is something you need to do.
Eating is something you need to do.
I should do work now.
I should do work.
I should.
I should.
I should.
Checking social media feels like work.
Checking social media feels like work.
It feels like work.
Like work.
Like work.
If I write a poem that is sort of work.
Sometimes you can get paid for writing a poem.
Sometimes you can get paid.
Sometimes.
Sometimes you can get paid.
I should do work now.
Work now.
I should always do work.
I should do work now.
I should do work now.
Checking social media feels like work.
I should do work now.
Checking social media feels like work.
Checking social media feels like work.
I should do work now.
I should do work now.
I should do work now.
I should do work now.