Struggling with Uncertainty The shadows on my bedroom wall are growing dark and long. I hear the voices rise and fall, their language harsh and strong. Do they know I can hear their fight? Maybe they just don't care that their child is locked in fright, heart pounding in both ears With commotion in the mind. Someone standing at the mouth had the idea to enter. To go further than light or language could go. As they followed the idea, light and language followed like two wolves—panting, hearing themselves panting. A shapeless scent in the damp air … Keep going, the idea said. The wild- life seemed wild and alive, moving when someone moved, casting their shadows on the shadows stretching in every direction. Keep going, The truth about this struggle Is merely to survive From the moment you arrive In birth, to the end of death
Poetry from Skaja Evens
In Case You Thought Being a Creator Was Easy Giving everything for the sake of your art Requires a vulnerability and rawness That tears you up inside The misconception is you’ll always love what you do When the truth is A lot of the time you’ll fucking hate it Who’d willingly cut themself open and pour themselves out? Sharing what’s in your heart and mind with the masses Leaving yourself open to critics and scrutiny Who often have no idea what they’re talking about, by the way, Deciding if you’re Good Enough An arbitrary decision that determines If you’re choosing between rent and food this month Or can pay for both, and maybe other bills And the danger of Making It in your chosen scene? If you cater to the masses, you risk becoming beige A mediocre shell of your former brilliance Kissing ass, bending over, and down on your knees The two hardest things about being in the arts: Giving everything you have for your passion, and Having the strength of conviction to stay true to yourself
Skaja Evens is a writer and artist living in Southeast Virginia. She runs It Takes All Kinds, a litzine published by Mōtus Audāx Press. Her work has been published in Spillwords Press, The Dope Fiend Daily, and The Rye Whiskey Review.
Artwork from Channie Greenberg
Synchronized Chaos August 2022: In the Palm of Our Hands
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand. And Eternity in an hour. — William Blake
This month, our contributors dig deep within themselves or into the details of their craft in order to understand and explore larger themes.
Tohm Bakelas travels through cities with old buildings weathered by time. He’s a hardworking artist in proudly workaday cities.
Tony Brewer digs into ordinary life: houseplants, dead batteries, date night in a small town, to show that these things matter and can be a jumping off point for thought.
Michael Todd Steffen’s piece echoes centuries of literary history in the whir of a laundromat, while Jim Meirose’s wordy mix evokes the drama of brass music. Joshua Martin breaks up words, evokes emerging oblivion, like waves crashing at sea, and Sayani Mukherjee’s multiple metaphorical vocalists come together in unison for peace.
Mark Young crafts poems through a technical process that each have an element of surprise encounter. Andrew Cyril MacDonald’s work looks at what comes after the encounter, the fading embers of passion and connection.
Sara Sims’ ekphrastic poetry inspired by public sculpture art highlights the power of communication and understanding.
Dana Kinsey explores and highlights the creative processes of raising children, teaching, and writing through a surfeit of clever words. Sarvinozkhon Olimova celebrates being true to the creative process.
John Tustin illuminates the preciousness and the struggle of relationships, battered by outside forces of conflict and racism. Mohinur Askarova relishes the energy of young love while Ilyosova Zukhraxon communicates love and respect in a poignant piece about her mom.
John Edward Culp highlights the need to stop and step back from one’s ego at times to have an authentic experience beyond oneself.
Ridwanullah Solahudeen links faith and desire in a paean to spiritual love, while Michael Robinson reflects on the spiritual sustenance he receives through the compassion of Jesus. Ike Boat shares highlights of his broadcasting career amplifying messages of faith, while Chimezie Ihekuna admonishes us to remember the meaning of Christmas throughout the year.
Amuda Abbas Oluwadamilola describes his poem as reflecting how “religion is an opiate” in his country. While a comment on the specific dynamic where he lives, the piece seems to reflect the broader tension between faith that inspires and liberates and beliefs that become a comfortable distraction from important work.
Gabriel T. Saah writes of the political and human struggle in his home country of Liberia through the metaphor of a single injured woman, while Patricia Doyne uses the language of children’s books to critique dangerous immaturity in adult leaders. Awodele Habeeb renders violence and oppression through the metaphor of wolves, while Mahbub relates the comfort found in personal relationships in a world afire on many levels.
Z.I. Mahmud addresses themes of belonging and migration in his essay on Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar named Desire. He seems to have sympathy for an unusual character who is removed from the drama’s everyday world and lives within her own imagination.
Ilyosova Fatimakhon knows where she belongs, as she exults in both her native Uzbekistan and in the joy of reading.
Christopher Bernard contributes a piece on the “opposite of politics” as other writers turn towards personal matters of the heart.
Aeesha Abdullahi Alhaji reflects on loneliness, being cast out of relationships.
J.J. Campbell speaks to the quiet despair of aging and loneliness, while Ian Copestick offers up humorous takes on what we value in people and how and why we compare ourselves to others.
Hannah Greenberg shares a fresh set of her nature scenes, still and tranquil water and lily pads while Shakzoda Kodirova sends us an ode to the beauty of a rose.
We hope that you enjoy each submission like the petals of Kodirova’s rose, considering each piece and leaving comments and thoughts for the creators. Thank you for participating in our literary community.
Poetry from Aeesha Abdullahi Alhaji
Musings Of A Loner
By
Aeesha Abdullahi Alhaji
submersed into husky lines—hypnotised by nature exuberance,
a misfit—growing on parallel lines, ageless, awaiting a homecoming,
un[scathed], to the truth, my existence a bane of contention,
~ousted from a love quadraple~
made my reign obsolete—happiness was not meant for (me).
Poetry from Mahbub Alam
The Firing World The world is firing Firing for what? The world is raging The wildlife is burning Burning for what? Some try to escape the fire Some can't but accept the world It seems to ask the question How are you, dear world? The silence breaks out suddenly thundering in the sky Blazing hundreds and thousands of lives The cloudy sky without rain thunders and fires on the ocean and the earth Firing for what? Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh 28/07//2022 A Room for Love Will you lend me your sky? O my dear, will you? I'll be there always twinkling in the night Will you hold my hand? I'm giving you my words We must fly on Make a room for love My sleepless nights and restless days The lively drakes and deer O my dear, can't you see and hear What I feel and what I face Would you like to join the race? Only for the 'yes' comment I can drive for rest of the world The sun rises ----- I know you are watching the beautiful sunny nature I'm standing by you looking behind. Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh 28/07//2022 Load Shedding The season is for - ongoing load shedding Who knows when and how it happens Appears without notice - shedding on life to lead Time is on and good Time is off and bad Yet time is not to blame What we say can't keep it in words and deeds Say much more than it needs The loaded head can't move forward anymore Burdened as the seedlings dry out in the hot rainless rainy season We like to see the glory that is not yet uttered The untold love like the unseen strength of the ocean Around the green beautiful hills protecting all O my dear load shedding! In this hot, gloomy, suffocating room Can you hear me? O my dear love ------ I like to live well in the enlightened green beautiful world Can you give me the address of my loving care? Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh 29/07//2022
Poetry from Sayani Mukherjee
Unison By Sayani Mukherjee Sugar palm hands Of a bohemian soul Need jagged patting To keep a straight face. A mahogany beach and oomph Of nothingness Squabbles hard over Empty nothings. What do i seek now Do i think in music? As happens within An earthen pot The pure sunken smell Jellyfishes, coconuts A slippery witch And two quarters of A ghetto revolution? Fathomless and Disreputable A slow moving sensational pitch As happened in jazz blues The stringing soulful siren A collective unison For peace and justice Human endeavours on earth like tree. Over two three degrees And office clad suits Cats and dogs game A material show buzz Of a pitching ballad.