Poetry from Ibrahim Honjo

Middle aged Middle Eastern man with a trimmed mustache and beard and black suit coat and white collared shirt and blue tie.

GIRLS AT THE GATES

It was a sunny day like in a fairy tale

on the street 

parades of brass bands were passing by

they played the Blue Danube

girls were standing at the gates

watching the young musicians

and each girl held someone dear in their thoughts

the wind blew gently fluttering their evening gowns

players were looking somewhere in front of them

as if they were carefully choosing every note

my sweetheart was sitting on the balcony full of flowers

she had a beautiful colourful bird on her shoulder

two beautiful doves were kissing on the balcony

Siamese cats watched them curiously

while musicians in uniforms 

headed in another direction to some cross street

music was slowly fading away

girls were glancing at musicians

they were invisible traces that remained in girls’ hearts

then all gates closed at the same time

and behind them remained all the girls in fluttering gowns

only my sweetheart ran into my arms

Muhammadjonova O’g’iloy reviews O’tkir Hoshimov’s story collection O’zbeklar

Book cover of O'tkir Hoshimov's O'zbeklar. Images of older and younger, men and women Uzbeks talking and playing in a park and looking off into the distance. Book is sepia toned among other books.

Among the books I needed to read was O’tkir Hoshimov’s collection of stories, ”O’zbeklar” Immersing myself in the reading, I became one with the characters. This work speaks of how simple, sincere, and hardworking the Uzbek people are. Despite each story in the book being written in a simple, folk style, it finds a place in the reader’s heart with its basis in real events. The work pays great attention to feelings such as patriotism, love for one’s homeland, and concern for its future. The Uzbek people’s readiness to sacrifice their lives for the Motherland, their struggle for its freedom and independence, is one of the main parts of the story.


In conclusion, the story ‘O’zbeklar’ is a vivid work that reflects the image of the Uzbek people, their inner world, and their attitude towards life, awakening national feelings, and promoting the ideas of humanity and patriotism.


This work has been flawlessly presented as a gift to students, and my enjoyment of it is a testament to my good fortune!”

Young Central Asian teen girl with long dark hair, a black and white cap, and a patterned green and pink and white coat. She's outside by a concrete path and petunias.

Muhammadjonova O’g’iloy
9th grade student school 5
Andijan region, Republic of Uzbekistan!

Poetry from Maftuna Rustamova

Relatives

You are all here, our house is peaceful,

The house, our wedding is peaceful.

Our hearts, our souls are at peace,

Be well, relatives.

Birthday, wedding, party,

All for you.

The open gate,

The doors are for you.

Stay healthy, our happiness,

Playing, laughing, and having fun.

We wish you luck,

Come on, relatives!

Maftuna Rustamova is a ninth grade student at secondary school #30, Bukhara region, Jondor District.

Poetry from Fadi Sido

Middle aged Middle Eastern man with a trimmed mustache and beard and black suit coat and white collared shirt and blue tie.

Her face appeared, Moons in her veil, In rosy, red like coral…When she removed a veil from her full moon, and shyness adorned her gaze…

Ah, my beloved…!! After you, Will I see…? A full moon I converse with in the sky of my horizon, And love asks: Where is the reader of the verse of passion…?! In embrace and union…

For your eyes, A poem tempts me…From the clarity of your intoxicating glance. My soul is reborn, and for your union, I wrote poetry as ink. The hunter of your heart. I strive towards that heart, And the eyes’ confession Of longing openly To a beloved… who stood at my door…And what she hid from my eyes openly, I see in her beauty the chapter of embrace…

Fadi Sido is the editor in chief of Raseef 81 magazine in Germany.

Essay from Yuldosheva Yulduz Ravshanovna

Young Central Asian woman in a green headscarf and blue and white top.

Little Zulfiya through the Teacher’s Eyes

Every nation has great figures who become its pride and honor. We, the Uzbek people, are justly proud of our poetess Zulfiya, whose beautiful poems, penetrating our literature, spirituality, and delicate hearts, have captured the hearts of millions. In nurturing love for the Motherland, respect for the native language, and feelings of kindness and compassion in the hearts of the young generation, the works of this great figure play a significant role.

One of the talented students studying at our school, Zahro Qahramonova, is among those gifted girls who embody such human emotions in her heart and who has developed a love for the art of words. In every line of poetry, Zahro feels beauty, sincerity, dreams, and aspiration. When she reads a poem, she becomes inspired just like little Zulfiya. She gives every word a place in her heart and brings each image to life in her imagination.

For us teachers, this is a great happiness — to work with students whose hearts are filled with love for poetry and whose souls shine with dreams. Zahro’s noble intentions, her dedication to creativity, and her ability to reflect on great themes such as the Motherland, mother, nature, and peace, give us reason to call her a true “little Zulfiya.”

Zulfiya’s proud lines, “I am the daughter of Uzbekistan”, today have become a life motto for thousands of girls like Zahro. We believe that today’s little Zulfiyas will grow into tomorrow’s enlightened, devoted, and creative women. Zahro is one of those girls who is confidently stepping toward such dreams.

Poetry from Parvinder Nagi

Middle aged South Asian woman with thick dark hair up in a bun, long earrings, and a tan saree.

THE BLEND OF ATTITUDE

Captivating the heavenly moments

with attitude and grace

Adorning the most precious

gifts of life

Orchestrated on the canvas

of life so beautifully

Unwavering support and non-judgmental attitude makes the bonds more precious

Positive attitude with good mindset

is a boon with grace and respect

Nonchalant attitude destroying

imbalances of minds calling for

disrespect, harassment and rapes

also lapses in moral decadences

Attitude in itself is a superpower

It’s based on the way how you’re being treated

Let there be voice and not merely an echo to fade

The positive attitude brings accolades to lasting success

Keep up your attitude in grace as you’re born to express yourself

A fundamental force influencing your actions

Bearing a strong ethical values

Unconsciously cultivated prelude to action

Reflections of our inner self through challenges of daily life

We are responsible for shaping our own lives with a blend of attitude.

————

ELEGANCE OF LOVE

Dancing through the moonbeams

so enchanting

Under the twinkling stars in the amidst of challenges

Yet keeping us connected

with firm determination in mind

Waiting with patience and perseverance for your kisses so warm and sweet

I decorate each ray so magical

Crafted every verse I write

Unparalleled embodiment

weaving tapestry of dreams

soaked in the elegance of love

Unravelling the deepest mysteries

Transporting down the abyss of heart

Awakening the soul from slumber’s deep

Unfolding the stories untold

Drifting my thoughts where dreams reside

Through the night so inviting

I paint the canvas besides

the vistas unknown

Embracing one another

We renew our bond of love

Knitting the web of trust

We mingle in the breathes so warm

Never to let you go

For I live in the sheets

of crumpled linen

Wrapped in the scents of your body

Where I hear the echoes

of your silence

lying under the twinkling stars.

Parvinder was born and brought up in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. Having dedicated her career to shaping the minds of future generations, she served as a principal from the distinguished senior secondary schools in India and also served as charity in the British schools in UK.

      Parvinder is a national award winner from NCERT, New Delhi, for making teaching and learning processes easier through classroom aids for both teachers and pupils. One of the defining moments of her poetic journey occurred during a visit to Dove Cottage and the museum dedicated to the venerable poet, William Wordsworth, nestled in the enchanting landscape of Grasmere, Lake District, UK.

In the hallowed halls of this literary sanctuary, standing amidst the profound legacy of Wordsworth, Parvinder found herself immersed in the timeless essence of poetry, a force capable of transcending the boundaries of time and place.   Her passion for poetry found recognition when she was bestowed with the prestigious accolades in a national poetry contest in 2022, orchestrated among a gathering of over 2000 poets from across India on the national level.

      Parvinder is a recipient of many literary awards in poetry….

– An Ambassador for peace in the World Poetic Fraternity

– The Global Peace Ambassador Awards

– Literary Ambassador Awards

– Honorary Doctorate Award

– An Ambassador for Indian culture for Insight Magazine (USA)

– Membership card from ICAL and felicitations of appreciation and excellence,  joining the bridges across the world through her literary work!

Parvinder is the author of the poetry collection, “UNFATHOMED SECRETS”, a heartfelt collection of 100 poems from the abyss of her heart. Parvinder’s poems are translated into various languages across the globe. She is honoured to be one of the 58 selected poets, whose poems are translated into Turkish and published in Turkey in the anthology book, “ Poets From The World”

Her poems are also published among 231 great noble world poets, in the book “ WORLD CONTEMPORARY POETS VOLUME 2.” A book, “ The Women – Global Poetic Gems” is the Collection of Lyrical Poems By 35 International Poets. Parvinder is proud to be featured among one of these world renowned poets. Her poems are reviewed by eminent writers, authors and also reviewers from Harvard University. From time to time her poems are featured in various journals, newspapers and magazines across the globe. She has collaborated in poetic duets with poets across the globe.

      She has also participated in live poetry recitation among global poets on Google Meet and won accolades! Parvinder has translated a historical chronological book, from Kosovo, written by Dibran Fylli “Prekazi Brezni Trimash-HE IS ALIVE“.

        Parvinder’s poems are music to the heart that express different aspects of life, conjuring up emotions from happiness to sadness using different styles and themes giving pleasure to the readers.