IF I WERE A TREE

If I were a tree
the tree, hidden inside me.
Perhaps a large Mango tree,
all the bird's nests, all the beehives
built inside me;
Bees are flying flowers to flowers
to collect bud nectar.
Birds sing and dance in the branches of flowers.
If I would be a tree
The tree, hidden inside me.
My branches and leaves are umbrellas
that shelter from summer dust and heat.
People sit under the trees
in hot waves of air and humidity.
Like an air cooler, but in a safe way
trees reduce climate misery.
I wish I would be a tree
the tree, hidden inside me.
The rain drops on my leaves
the insect hides below to flee.
The sparrows are bathing feathers are falling
like a paratrooper swinging in the air.
In the beehive, the queen came out from her chamber
Her Majesty bath in the tender;
the rainwater flashing through the root
The ants are climbing to reach the bark
Beneath the bark, there are colonies of troops.
I wish I could be a tree
the tree, hidden inside me.
My fruits are sweet and sour
with green, golden and red cores.
Flavour and freshness,
mind-blowing fragrance.
It's beauty and happiness
It's courage and kindness! 
I wish I would be a tree
the tree, hidden inside me.


 
THE BLUE MIMOSA
 
I had seen,
the blue Mimosa trees in blossoms
and was overwhelmed by its beauty
but I don’t know its name.
You’re talking about it,
when the season of flower is gone.
And; when you come to my life
I noticed in your eyes,
the season has gone again.
This time, the season of love.
Because-
you were in enormous pain
for your past.

 

ANOTHER TRY

Sometimes,
I am not afraid of life
nor afraid of death.
But I think, 
what will happen 
after our death.
Will there someone waiting for you
someone else will be mine
or will we become dust
or a molecule with an endless life.
How far we will travel
how many galaxies 
how many stars
will you read my poems
when I will be the universal traveler.
Shall I feel this loneliness while
traveling star after star.
I want this human life back
with another try.
You will sit with me
I will sit beside.
And that will be time for our divine love
without endless cry. 


THE SUNSET IN NAGARKOT HILLS

I am standing with a friend
yet I am alone
and thinking about you.
The sun is setting in the west
of Nagarkot hills.
Twilight is visible at skyline
clouds kiss the forest greens.
Birds and insects are making noisy sounds
evening temperature is getting chilled.
fogs and clouds are flying like soft cottons
and I am alone
with many people.
Most tourist couple have already left,
how unlucky they are
those did not kiss each other
in this foggy mountain evening. 


IF YOU CALL ME

Distance creates disappearance
time kills memories.
The world is a small village
but we are from two countries.
Two different races, religion
and ethnicity.

If you call me,
I will fly like an eagle
if you call me
I will try like an ant.
if you call me
I will love you like a human
giving up the obsession.
If you call me
I will build a home;
our two bodies
will become one
with the love of the divine.

so, please call me
please call me back
let’s be you are mine
I am yours
let’s fulfill this human life. 


SOLITUDE

Here,
I have no family
no country
no beloved
yet, I hold the entire
universe in my heart. 
-alone and lonely. 



THOSE TWO EYES

I have fought
in so many difficulties
yet, I lost
in front of those two eyes.  



Tareq Samin is an Author, Human Rights Activist and Social Entrepreneur. He is the editor of the bilingual literary journal Sahitto. He has authored ten books. His poems have been translated in more than 25 languages of which  English, Spanish, Chinese, German, French, Italian are few to mention. His poems, short stories and articles have also published in more than 40 countries.

Tareq Samin received the ‘International Best Poets Award-2020’ from The International Poetry Translation And Research Centre (IPTRC), China and the Greek Academy of Arts and Writing. He has been awarded ‘Honorable Mention’ in Foreign Language Authors category for his poem ‘Another Try’ in ‘The prize il Meleto di Guido Gozzano Agliè’ poetry competition held on 12 September 2020 in Turin, Italy. In July 2021 he won Naji Naaman Literary Prize 2021.

Tareq Samin is a former fellow of Martin-Roth-Initiative Scholarship. The Martin Roth-Initiative is a joint program of ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) and the Goethe-Institut. As a Martin-Roth-Initiative Scholarship fellow he was a guest writer in Goethe-Institut, Kolkata, India, and Kathmandu, Nepal. 
In 2021, he was an International guest writer in Château de Lavigny International writers-in-residence, Switzerland.

In 2023, he has been selected for Hungarian writers-in-residence. Also he has been nominated for the Oak Institute for Human Rights. 

CREATING AN ESTATE OF HAPPINESS FOR YOURSELF 

						-Dr. Jernail S. Anand


Those who love silver and crave for gold
Will say one day, we have committed suicide.
-	Kaifi Azmi

The men of business in olden times would write on their 'Gullaks' (chests)  would write ‘Shubh Labh’ (Just Profit). Those times when people were not so ambitious for personal growth, were better times, because the general tone of society was that of goodness, kindness, and an all pervading sense of mutual understanding and love for humanity. 

PROFIT JUST OR UNJUST 

Profit is fine, but how can it be ‘Shubh’ [Just]? Who knows the difference between Shubh and Ashubh [Just and Unjust]? If the business is carried out with just practices, it gives joy. But when we resort to unjust practices to maximize profits, it spreads  pain.  As most of the people are after unjust profits, as widespread is the incidence of pain. Pain is symptomatic of some abnormality in the body. And when it remains  untreated over years,  it gives rise to chronic ailments. We are all afflicted with a malaise: psycho-spiritual sickness. We are running after wealth and in the pursuit, lose the joy of living. At the same time, we push thousands below the poverty line with our indiscrete actions aimed at self-promotion.

FAIR IS FOUL: THE ZONE OF THE UNDESIRABLE 

	Fair is foul, foul is fair, 
	hover through fog and filthy air".  

Macbeth's witches make a great statement. The civilization represents the ‘fair’ which the witches declare as ‘foul’.  For ordinary intelligence, it is difficult to distinguish between Right and Not Right. People doing ordinary jobs and living somehow, don’t even realize when they have stepped into the Zone of the Undesirable. But the essential question is: Even if they know, will they stop?  The entire populace is busy in making fast buck. Some lose their scruples when life is too hard on them. And some, on whom luck has smiled,  think why we should look back? 

LOVE AND WAR

Love is a sacred emotion, yet people believe that everything is fair in love and war. ‘Tam sam dand bhed’ are the words oft repeated by men who have no scruples. Men, in general,  are bound by a sense of the moral and the immoral, but we take the first opportunity to override these considerations. It has to be noted that men in general hold on to principles. But there is only one variety of people who lack all scruples. It is the politicians. For whom, every day is an undeclared war, which must be won.  So, principles are a suicidal passion for a politician. Those who use uneven methods to win their love, too are never forgiven by gods who are closely monitoring our conduct. Have we seen any politician dying an enviable death, except in case of a few, who acted as statesmen, and upheld their principles? In love too, if we miss the moral mark, all unions fizzle out leaving behind a family on the rocks.

THE RIGHT CONDUCT

Friends who are well endowed often ask: what is bad in making money? One of them deals in shares. If they rise, what is wrong in it? Some have invested their money in real estate from where they get interest on their wealth. The question is: what is unethical about it. Further on, if you start an industry, and if gods are kind and it starts prospering, what is wrong in it? Is ambition an unethical passion? Can we stop people from growing up? 

These are scorching questions. We cannot stop people from starting their business, and everyone wants that the business should prosper. In the same way, the man of the stock market too cannot be faulted if he gets a fortune by a rise in the value of his shares. 

The basic issue here is: Do you want happiness? Or you simply want Wealth?

If your preference is for Wealth, then all your pursuits are justified. But don’t blame gods if your son develops some problem, or your daughter elopes with someone. Your wife can have asthma. And you too can have blood pressure. You may have to visit a heart surgeon, to get a stent. Wealth brings in its train all these unceremonious things. If you have too much of it, one of your sons may decide to get rid of you and grab the entire wealth you have created. Anything can be expected from jealous gods. You are entirely innocent. There is nothing wrong in making fast buck. Millions have been making millions. And you can hear the high voices of celebrations from across the continents. Men of success, enjoying the fruits of their labour. 

However, if Happiness is your passion, then, it all depends on how you use your wealth. If you are a man of business, let me take you back to the beginning of this article. Remember ‘Shubh Labh’. Every penny that you earn should be through ‘just’ means. If gods are kind and bless you with wealth, you can share it with those who need it. It will make the cosmic forces happy. And this happiness will reflect in your eyes, on your forehead, and in your body language. Look at the body language of those who died for the country. S. Bhagat Singh, Lala Hardyal. And  look at the body language of our great money makers who have their wealth in Swiss banks.  It is all a matter of choice. Happiness or Wealth- both cannot be put together, unless you have a mind trained in cosmic sympathy, and you possess the power to part with your wealth so that you can create an estate of happiness for yourself.  

The final word is: Think of your happiness, and create as much wealth  as much as you can, but make sure, it does not make anyone poor. If it can uplift others also, it is an act of goodness, and loved by gods. 



Dr Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, is author of 161 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. He was awarded Charter of Morava, the great Award by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. The Academy of Arts and philosophical Sciences of Bari  [Italy] honoured him with the award of an Honourable Academic.  Recently, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. Recently, he organized an International Conference on Contemporary Ethics at Chandigarh. His most phenomenal book is Lustus:The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahkaal Trilogy]. [Email: anandjs55@yahoo.com Mobile: 919876652401[Whatsapp]

Link Bibliography:
https://atunispoetry.com/2023/12/08/indian-author-dr-jernail-s-anand-honoured-at-the-60th-belgrade-international-meeting-of-writers/

UZBEKISTAN – MY HOMELAND

The homeland is a place our ancestors deemed sacred, where our descendants guard like the apple of their eye, where our umbilical cord blood was shed. The homeland is the place everyone sees when they first open their eyes, sincerely loves, cherishes, and where they were born and raised.

Everyone loves their homeland; when they think of it, their home, family, relatives, and friends come to mind. That’s why we all strive to do everything good for our country, for its flourishing and peaceful life. The homeland is, first and foremost, our people. They are kind, generous, humane, good-hearted, and hardworking. Our people have always been close, friendly with each other. Their respect for one another is boundless, making them one of the most hospitable nations. It hosts historical sites like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khorezm, and Termez, welcoming numerous travelers every year.

I read what the writers wrote,
The poems my poets composed.
But I couldn't find a place as beautiful
As the descriptions of my Uzbekistan.

Our sky is clear, our water and air are pure, our nature is beautiful. There are all conditions for young children to attend kindergartens and schools, for youth to study for bachelor's and master's degrees, and for everyone to work independently and conduct research. The education and employment of women, and the provision of pensions to the elderly are monitored. There are many places for education, medical treatment, rest, and cultural relaxation.

Early in the morning, we see our hardworking people baking fresh bread in the tandoor, sprinkling and sweeping the streets and yards, and the work in the fields has already begun. We also witness birds singing their "song of happiness." Some are preparing for school, some for work, others for the market or guests. During this time, we meet and greet our close relatives, ask about their well-being. We help schoolchildren and our elderly grandparents cross the road. If we are in a car, we try to give way to people and other vehicles. Whether at work, in educational institutions, or wherever we are, we find the desire within ourselves to spread good cheer and treat others well.

In the family, everyone feels very happy. With the closest people around – parents, siblings, spouses, and children – life becomes even more joyful. The father is the pillar of the family, strong and robust, providing sufficient funds and conditions for the family. The mother mainly deals with child-rearing, household chores, and her professional activities. Children, surrounded by loving people in a peaceful homeland, study and strive, becoming individuals who will benefit our country in the future.  


  In conclusion, when we speak of the homeland, everyone envisions their motherland. We are proud to be born in such a paradise-like, beautiful, peaceful, and kind homeland. Just as everyone loves their mother more than any other woman, people love their homeland more than any other country. Wherever one is born, that place is dear and sacred. There is no place as blessed as the threshold of the homeland. There is only one motherland, and the love for it is unique.  


Marjona Jo'rayeva was born on October 18, 2003, in the Termiz district of Surxondaryo region. She is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of Philology of the Termiz State Pedagogical Institute, specializing in Uzbek language and literature education.

Seashell and Falcon’s Feather


Leaning against the sky full of glittering stars,
I crack the nifty puzzles of wonderous rhymes-
And a cluster of homes where I live sleep in silence,
To allow my quill to pray for God and chant hymns!
Lewd sunrays pierce innocent but joyful bleeding dawn,
And the daylight ploughs through my sparkling mind-
While I weave miracles of benumbing wills on my quills,
And gain applause from global readers, front and behind!

Strain of endless hope bonds with light of peace in silence,
And the old shafts of fear or hate reaches the spear of love-
Such rhythm never ends, and mighty God always sends,
The rejoicing moments for a few from His abode above!
Beauty of spendthrift hours spent on Earth bravely shows,
Life is one-act-play, on mud-hut clay, or a perilous feline sea-
But always ready to grapple or swoop down to play with claw,
And becomes breathless to lock or unlock the happiness key!

The secrets of my witless mind now deal with lusty hours,
Pounded by the wordless things with a miraculous power-
And swiftly makes me rise to dive in the ocean of rhymes, 
To tame the throbs with crack of a whip from ivory tower!
I still know not why God sent me to Earth, politically incorrect, 
May be to collect the seashell and falcon’s feather or drink wine-
But the shifting weather of the world taught me to learn.
Slouching dwarf, ranting priest, and occasionally whine!! 

Hillol Ray, D.Litt., Ph.D. (Doctor of Humanity), D.Phil. (Theology), Ph.D. (Honoris Causa), D.Phil. (Nigeria), D.Litt. (Morocco), Poet Laureate, Author, Translator, is an Environmental Engineer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Dallas, Texas. He is listed in Who’s Who in Asian-Americans, Marquis Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, and Who’s Who in the World.    His books “Wings of Time”, “Metamorphic Portrait” (Amazon. Com) -recently released.


Web Links:
https://bwesner.wixsite.com/hillolraypoetry 
https://bwesner.wixsite.com/hillolraypoetry/e 
https://bwesner.wixsite.com/awards-2016-to-2030

 FELLOW TRAVELLER!

I listen to words I never uttered 
And collect dreams sans reasons
Know not who the evil eyes are
Find nowhere to stand and stare
Go on walking away from you
The pain takes more space now 
A silent witness to all this I am
Our realm seems quite absurd
My emotions inexpensive too
Nothing comforts me at this state
My shadow my only fellow traveller
Past like a hurricane troubles me.



 HAPPY WORLD OF LOVE!

Sometimes I feel your heart's call
While thinking about you in silence 
My desires get shattered in no time
What should I do with the reverie 
And the musing away from you
The cruel world seems falling on me
The storm that has ravaged dreams
Was intensely violent for sure
The happy world of love is lost now
Tell where I should go without you .



 WHEN HOPE ENDS!

Nothing is there in our body 
But the cover of painful soul
And in pain I look for pure love
This very wish has spoiled me
I 've lost everything all my way
Your intention did plunder me 
You separated me from your life
You never cherished my being
When hope ends ,my day ends
I exist with the end of my life
For nothing will remain there
Except my sobbing painful soul.



 NO LONGER IN YOUR WORLD!

It's been a year since we fell in love
Both ways was it but one sided now
Our dreams are yet to be fulfilled
The world has disowned me in toto
Your shadow has separated me
I am no longer in your world
The moon and stars upset with me
Even the sky is with me no more
Shocked me, away from my Heart
If it is God's will, I've no complaints
I've prayed thousand times for you.



Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai (DOB 07/06/1973) is a passionate Indian Author-cum- bilingual poet while a tremendous lecturer of English by profession in the Ganjam district of Odisha. He is an accomplished source of inspiration for young generation of India .His free verse on Romantic and melancholic poems appreciated by everyone. He belongs to a small typical village Nandiagada of Ganjam District, the state of Odisha.After schooling he studied intermediate and Graduated In Kabisurjya Baladev vigyan Mahavidyalaya then M A in English from Berhampur University PhD in language and literature and D.litt from Colombian poetic house from South America.

He promotes his specific writings around the world literature and trades with multiple stems that are related to current issues based on his observation and experiences that needs urgent attention. He is an award winning writer who has achieved various laurels from the circle of writing worldwide. His free verse poems not only inspires young readers but also the ready of current time. His poetic symbol is right now inspiring others, some of which are appreciated by laurels of India and across the world. Many of his poems been translated in different Indian languages and got global appreciation. Lots of well wishes for his upcoming writings and success in the future. He is an award winning poet author of many best seller books.

Recently he is awarded Rabindra nath Tagore and Gujarat Sahitya Academy for the year 2022 from Motivational Strips . A gold medal from world union of poets France & winner Of Rahim Karims world literary prize 2023.The government of Odisha Higher Education Department appointed him as a president to Governing body of Padmashree Dr. Ghanashyam Mishra Sanskrit Degree College, Kabisurjyanagar. Winner of " HYPERPOEM " GUNIESS WORLD RECORD 2023. Recently he was awarded from SABDA literary Festival at Assam. Highest literary honour from Peru contributing world literature 2024.Prestigious Cesar Vellejo award 2024

Completed 200 Epistolary poems with American poet Kristy Raines.
Books.
1.Psalm of the Soul.
2.Rise of New Dawn.
3.secret Of Torment.
4.Everything I never told you.
5.Vision Of Life National Library Kolkata.
6.100 Shadows of Dream.
7.Timeless Anguish.
8.Voice of Silence.
9.I cross my heart from east to west . Epistolary poetry with Kristy Raines

LIFE AND AFTERLIFE 

Life after life, birth after birth 
We are rolling here 
carrying all the passion 
All the miseries and small happiness 
in our lonely breasts.
With so much pain and remorse 
Forgetting everything about the real truth 
With so much pain, so many miseries. 
We wallow in mud and mire
Without thinking about our true nature  
Our original mission.
 
We forget that we are a guest 
For the time being 
In this mortal field.
We have to leave this place one day. 
Our mission here is to earn a divinity 
Which is the only thing we will carry 
to the other world.

Our mission is to achieve 
divinity during this lifetime. 
Our mission is not to amass material wealth 
fame and ephemeral properties. 
But the permanent bliss and happiness. 
It will pass this mortal hemisphere and will be radiant 
in the other world free from all 
bondage of material field.


SOFT GAZE

I remember meeting with you was accidental.
It was a nice coincidence.
Now I could not think of a life without you.
God has sent an angel like you.
To set my life purposefully
Thus you have become an essential person to me
I know what I have gained.
Need not to elaborate 
Sometimes life changes so quickly 
through companionship
A sweetness of life has begun with you.
One thing is sure, there is a flow of verses.
And you  have become the theme of my poem
For, you yourself is a beautiful poem.
With your nice eyes and cascading hair
 And flower-like soft gaze



RHYTHM

Everywhere Nature is smiling with a rhythmical spell.
Everywhere is heard its supreme music.
As Nature opens its face in the eyes of the dawn, the leaves and creepers dazzle in aureate sunshine.
The dew drops glitter like pearls in the grass.

The birds flutter in the sky in groups with chorus leaving their rhythmic verse in the breast of time.
The buzzing of bees and insects creates a magical rhythm.
The flowers in spring dance in the sweet breeze in a rhythmic way.
The whisper of the vernal wind is mesmerizing and enthralling. 

The rustle of branches and leaves is soft and vibrating.
The flower opens silently with a rhythmic note creating a soft vibration in the air.
The sea with its dancing waves creates a beautiful symphony all the time.
It vibrates the shore enlivening, and invigorating the pristine earth with new energy and life.

The magical autumnal moon looks enchanting. In the rainy season, there is a beautiful movement of the clouds.
The raindrops create a rhythmic sound on the leaves and creepers.
All the heavenly bodies like the sun, stars, and planets all exist and move in a rhythmic vibration of forces.

The eternal subtle relationship between different creations is called rhythm and they cling to each other.


BOUNDLESS LOVE 

I have visualised the glory of boundless love in you.
Your eyes gleam of pure love.
That never wants anything in return.
I appreciate your belief in love.
If love is lust, the essence of love is lost.
In love, we just maintain a makeshift way. 
It ends with a casual life.
In most cases, love is not transported to a superior level
Love dies much before it blooms.
It dies with the disappearance of the body.
It destroys in body's level.
Love ceases its divinity.


Bio

Maheshwar Das is a bilingual poet, translator, editor, and story writer. He writes in English and Odia language.
He has been pursuing his creative writing for the last twenty years and has authored more than one thousand English poems. All of his poetical exposition centres around Nature, God,   love, and relationships. Some of his poems have been translated into international languages. He has co-authored three English anthologies of poems with his two friends.  Besides he is the co-author of more than fifty English anthologies of poems of many literary groups.
He holds the degree of M.A. in both Economics and History. He has accomplished a Ph.D.  degree in sociology from Utkal University. He also holds a law degree from M.S. Law College, Cuttack. He hails from Mallipur in the district of Cuttack, Odisha, India.
His English poems have been published in several national and international journals and Anthologies and have gained worldwide appreciation. He has received so many accolades from various national and international literary groups. He is a recipient of the Gold Medal award from the World Union of Poets, Rome.

Birthday Poem
 
My mind is filled to capacity by the divine.
There is no longer space for unresolved pain.
Although it never ceases to beat on the door 
of my sanity.
The divine excludes all misery and transforms 
it into love.
As the divine protects its own.
You ask me, 'What about the demands of the outside world.'
There is no outside world.
Only a false world made from fear and loathing.
A  world  tormented by misery and pain.
Waiting to enter and shake it up.
Ah, I say there is no world only love.
for that is what I choose.
What you choose is held in exile until you are ready.
The things of the earth need no external pleasure.
They are secure within.
Demons can no longer survive in the mind as there
is no air for them to breath.
They trip on the ruby slippers left by a lost and
tormented child.
Now healed, safe and free.
The woods are cold and dangerous.
and the life they offer is seductive.
The woods are full of hidden thorns and grief.
They must be left on the craggy rocks.
The must die before inflicting pain and sorrow.
Do not go near them for like burs they will stick
to you forever.
 
Sandy Rochelle