Christina Chin (plain)
Jerome Berglund (italic)
Princess Carry
first butterfly
voices approaching
ellipses in the
closed captions
on my cut papaya
milkweed
kaleidoscope
the monarchs
piercing deeper
bedecked
in gold leaf
Diane de Guise
Loss Leader
japanese apricot
million cherries
in a crack
one summer
on the cotton gingham
afternoon tea
—split scones
and clotted cream
scampering squirrels chirp
something I did right
something did wrong
belle époque
蹬车者
我好奇他能拾到什么
面对着蒿草的隐没
他只能伸手去摸索
我后背着手走过
风从跌宕的日子里带来七嘴八舌
将我推近去看他的战果
存留在染泥的三轮车
烂炮纸与旧车链
不如拾一把蒿草点了火
不如拣几块砖头堆住所
不久他挺起身子举起新找的斧戈
生锈的颜色却能斩断绳索
斩断他以住生活里缠上身的绳索
他转身还举起另一件战果
不会关闭的留声机抚耳以音波
我祈愿它永远唱着歌
一方出声万林和
一人欢心万鸟乐
红炮纸和旧车链扬开苦涩
击开七嘴八舌
开阔的前路告诉我
有一颗燃烧的心何需点火
有一辆随性的三轮车何需住所
The Cyclist蹬车者
What treasures he might unearth
amidst the weeds’ retreat
His hands fumble through the shadows
While I observe with clasped hands
Winds carry whispers from turbulent days
Drawing me closer to witness his discoveries
Displayed upon his mud-spattered tricycle
Faded firecracker remnants and weathered chains
Perhaps better to gather weeds and kindle flame
Perhaps better to collect stones and build refuge
Soon he rises, proudly holding his newfound weapon
Rusty in appearance, yet sharp enough to sever bonds
To cut free from the entangling ropes of existence
He turns, revealing another prize
A broken phonograph, still breathing melodies into the air
I hope its song continues eternally
When one voice rises,
forests echo in harmony
When one heart finds joy,
birds join in celebration
Discarded firecracker papers and chains release bitterness
Silencing the chorus of critical voices
The open path before us reveals this truth
A heart already aflame needs no spark
A free-spirited tricycle needs no shelter
Su Yun, 17 years old, is a member of the Chinese Poetry Society and a young poet. His works have been published in more than ten countries. He has published two poetry collections in China, namely Inspiration from All Things and Wisdom and Philosophy, and one in India titled WITH ECSTASY OF MUSINGS IN TRANQUILITY. He has won the Guido Gozzano Orchard Award in Italy, the Special Award for Foreign Writers in the City of Pomezia, and was praised by the organizing committee as the “Craftsman of Chinese Lyric Poetry”. He has also received the “Cuttlefish Bone” Best International Writer Award for those under 25.
我也想庆祝夜的生日
河北省石家庄市藁城区工业路小学 苏墨琰 10岁
夜的生日什么时候开始
小飞蛾趴在玻璃上提醒我
天空已摆好月亮蛋糕
插上星星蜡烛
蟋蟀和纺织娘开始歌唱
树叶哗啦啦鼓掌
风送来花香
灯光献上祝福
就连梦也和夜视频通话
祝他生日快乐
我也想庆祝夜的生日
其实，我趴在窗前
已经悄悄地帮他
关掉太阳
I Also Want to Celebrate the Night’s Birthday
By Su Moyan, 10 years old, Gongye Road Primary School, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
When does the night’s birthday start?
The little moth on the glass reminds me
The sky has set up a moon cake
With star candles inserted
Crickets and katydids start singing
Leaves applaud rustlingly
The wind sends the fragrance of flowers
Lights offer blessings
Even dreams have a video call with the night
Wishing him a happy birthday
I also want to celebrate the night’s birthday
In fact, I lean by the window
And have quietly helped him
Turn off the sun
窗帘
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛润楠 9岁
风是个捣蛋鬼
把我们教室的窗帘
一会儿变胖
一会儿变瘦
胖窗帘像个孕妇
同学从窗帘后面
探头走出来
胖孕妇秒变瘦妈妈
Curtain
By Xue Runnan, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
The wind is a troublemaker
It makes the curtain of our classroom
Now fat
Now thin
The fat curtain is like a pregnant woman
When classmates peek out from behind the curtain
The fat pregnant woman instantly becomes a thin mother
春天的火车
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 李思锦 9岁
花朵是春天的火车
一开动火车
就听到一阵阵香的震动
Spring’s Train
By Li Sijin, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Flowers are spring’s train
As soon as the train starts moving
We hear bursts of fragrant vibrations
月光走秀
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛嘉一 9岁
月光
穿上雪白的裙子
像一位白雪公主
在人间走秀
忽然
她跌倒了
月光碎了
月光花开了
Moonlight Fashion Show
By Xue Jiayi, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Moonlight
Puts on a snow-white dress
Like a Snow White
Walking a show on earth
Suddenly
She stumbles
Moonlight shatters
Moonlight flowers bloom
抢龙珠
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛舜兮 9岁
夕阳西下
几缕云围着落日
像极了几条龙
在抢一颗龙珠
Snatching the Dragon Ball
By Xue Shunxi, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
As the sun sets
Several wisps of clouds surround the setting sun
Just like several dragons
Snatched a dragon ball
美丽的雪花
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 马崡旭 9岁
冬天
雪花打扮得
漂漂亮亮的
她们穿上洁白的裙子
跳着洁白的舞蹈
讲着洁白的故事
Beautiful Snowflakes
By Ma Hanxu, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
In winter
Snowflakes dress up
Prettily
They put on white dresses
Dance white dances
Tell white stories
小鸟
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛畅 9岁
窗外的小鸟
学着我们的样子
叽叽喳喳读课文
我们停下来
它们还在读
老师宣布
小鸟读得最快乐
Birds
By Xue Chang, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Birds outside the window
Learn from us
Chirping and reading textbooks
When we stop
They keep reading
The teacher announces
Birds read the happiest
花朵上的雨滴
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 刘怡杉 9岁
乌云开工了
用自己国家的小水晶
给花朵们穿上
自己亲手制作的水晶鞋
Raindrops on Flowers
By Liu Yishan, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Dark clouds start working
With small crystals from their own country
Dress the flowers
In crystal shoes made by themselves
花梦
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛子航 9岁
把我的灯关了
把我的门关了
把我的耳朵关了
把我拉进花的梦中
给我一个清醒的鼻子
Flower Dream
By Xue Zihang, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Turn off my lights
Close my door
Shut my ears
Pull me into a flower dream
Give me a sober nose
热闹的秋雨
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 顼艺安 9岁
小雨滴在天上乱跑
落下的时候
还在叽叽喳喳地叫
来到地面又开始聊天
好热闹的秋雨
Lively Autumn Rain
By Xu Yian, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Little raindrops run wild in the sky
When falling
They still chirp and shout
When they come to the ground, they start chatting again
What a lively autumn rain
小蜜蜂住酒店
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 韩鑫佑 9岁
沙沙沙
下雨了
被雨淋湿的小蜜蜂
急急忙忙钻进一朵小花
甜甜的花酒
美美的花床
小蜜蜂
躺在花朵酒店里
睡着了
Little Bees in the Flower Hotel
By Han Xinyu, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Shasha Sha
It’s raining!
Little bees soaked by the rain
Hurry into a tiny flower—
Sweet flower wine,
A beautiful flower bed…
The little bees
Lie in their flower hotel
And drift off to sleep.
猫与云
河北省石家庄市藁城区贾市庄镇贯庄小学 薛梓阳 9岁
一到阴天
小猫就害怕出门
因为云朵的眼泪
让它担心
自己柔软的皮毛
会被云要回去
Cats and Clouds
By Xue Ziyang, 9 years old, Guanzhuang Primary School, Jiashizhuang Town, Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province
Whenever it’s cloudy
The kitten is afraid to go out
Because of the clouds’ tears
It worries
That its soft fur
Will be taken back by the clouds
POETRY Unites people
We are traveling with words and with our talents.
EVA Petropoulou Lianou, founder of literary project,” Poetry Unites people,” works closely with a very talented young student in China
Su Yun is a young poet who has shown an interest in the role of art, especially poetry, for young people’s education.
We cooperate and we exchange poems that are published in China and Greece.
Here you can find some poems written by young students.
The project is called
“Youth and Poetry”.
**If any teacher or school in Europe or Greece is interested and wants to participate in our project
POETRY Unites people “Youth and Poetry”
you can send email with your personal details to eviepara@yahoo.fr.
THE BURNING BOAT
I had burnt my boat
When I crossed the sea
I was then alone
Only my shadow witnessed it
Now, the stink of burning only I can smell
The burnt mark is visible to those
Who have sparks in their eyes
I am carrying the sea and burnt the boat within me
My boat was burning
There on the sands of seashore
Since then with the every tide
Sea attempts to put out the fire and
Wash off my burnt boat
Even for the high tide, it’s not possible to do so
My heart is burning in separation of my beloved
It’s pangs are too intensive
My blanket cannot properly cover my body
To extinguish the fire
The sea is nothing but my vast body
My toes are touching the sea bed
My boat is my heart within – the Sun on the sky
Smokes come out all over in my mind
My hairs turned into ashes grey
By the heat of my burning heart
It seems, my heart can’t meet;
Can’t make reunion with my beloved
Till the sea of my body gets dried out
O, my Lord!
How long I will have to wait
To show you my burning heart
Alas…!
WOMAN, BEYOND THE INDEX OF BODY
Lake like eyes/ Scarlet coral-like lips/ Curly-curvy hairs
Attraction all four directions
These are mazes
Face and physical charms are curtains, indeed
A weapon to keep off you from the desired abode
A true woman lives in somewhere else
Beyond the index of her body
Sitting crouch like a recluse
Just like an abstract thing
Like a dream of snow-white clouds
Sometimes, similar to the moonless dark night
Dormant lightening, full of its potency
Extremely tough meditation is needed
To open her inner layers of heart,
Love is considered to be the genuine pearl of a woman
This can discover by proceeding beyond her body
Otherwise, nothing lies in the whirlpool of body
Man wants to overpower
The screaming body of a woman
But the body is a dune of sands/ a fair of desires
There is only mirage and mirage
Woman uses to be hidden,
Somewhere in her inner self,
Instead of, being found in her apparent body
Which is like an epic center of a live volcano
A man in his entire life
Uses to run after fascinating faces
Like those idiot men
Who on the surface of the water
Often, stare at diving and floating waves
With their curious eyes
Use to play, the whole day, with shells lying on beaches
Perhaps, they do not know
That the true pearls are senselessly lying
In the depth of a sea,
Where the breathes not much support the divers
To achieve such unknown pearls in the deep sea
Needed to wait till the lips of shell get opened
To get the original element of a woman
You will have to raise the curtain of deceitful face
You will have to step down
In to the concealed room of her heart
You will have to knock and knock again
At the tightly closed window of her soul
A woman is not a thing of luxury
Not a commodity of marketing
Not even a body of only bone and flesh
The true name of a woman is ——
Love, love, and only love!
Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar is a Consultant Editor (Urdu) in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Ministry of Education, Government of India. He had been Principal Publication Officer in National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language in 2007. He has been, a member of Advisory Board of National Book Trust India.
He is a Multilingual (English, Hindi and Urdu) famous poet, short story writer and critic from India. He is Graduate with English Honours from Ranchi University. He has topped Jawaharlal Nehru University in Masters with Literature. He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy for his Research Work from University of Delhi. He is Post Graduate Diploma holder in Calligraphy, Mass Media and in Book Publishing with Specialization in Editing.
Dr. Perwaiz Shaharyar began writing his poems in English since lockdown in the period of Pandemic COVID-19. He has written more than 100 poems, participated in many worldwide webinars and published in various international anthologies, so far. His as many as 25 poems have been translated by many award-winning litterateurs into Polish, Indonesian, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Bengali, Hindi, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, and Albanian languages. His poems are being published in several anthologies within the country and abroad. He has 20 published books of literature in his credentials, so far. He has won many awards and accolades for his outstanding intellectual and literary contributions. His poem ‘The Burning Boat’ contains mystic (Sufism) and metaphysical elements.
HERE WE ARE
The FedEx driver’s Nazi haircut like
Elon sported not long ago startles me.
Barking at his phone, he waves and leaves.
Does he smile knowing he resembles
the dead Führer, evil incarnate?
Allied Forces fought as Ford sent Hitler
trucks, the damn Nazi. I pull behind a
beat-up Ford F-250 at Walgreens.
His license plate: Sons of Confederate
Veterans. No doubt also a member of
The Sons of the Confederacy. Walking
past, I avert my eyes so I won’t make
contact with the woman sitting in the
front seat disheveled her hair awry.
Does she believe this twisted reality?
Proud Boys, or another fringy brown shirt
group, native Neo-Nazi terrorists
masked & masquerading as Ice Men shove
invade shops, schools, & fields arresting
the innocent, ignoring our sacred
Constitution. Like the KKK, brave
when hiding behind a hood, cloaking them
from eventual prosecution. This
wicked underground emboldened by the
orange vitriol has crawled into the light,
wielding swords of bigotry and hatred.
Their plague of depravity strikes without
warning. Which Libertarian Trumpy
“friend” or Confederate kin would report
me to the Gestapo? No one is safe.
For, here we are, swimming in fascism
2024 Fall
Leave it in the air
My fear
Warn myself to be aware
Of the veneer
Of the seemingly clear
Leave me there
Ditch all the flare
But I was given no flair
To tame a bear
It lost an ear
A long blare
A long glare
At me who’s near
And dare
12th Nov. 2024
I wrote reams
Reams of slips
To you just piles
Of utter nonsense
Spearheaded in this cold war
I’m back with
A wounded Soul
Gigantic hole
Bullets shot through me
No more
Not valiant soldier
No affinity for
A purple heart
Now even your heart
Thumps for me not
Home where
And how?
Founded in a trench
Failed to stanch
Haemorrhaging
S Afrose (Sabiha Afrose) from Bangladesh. She is a lover of poetry. Her journey started in August 2020. Gradually it’s turned into her passion. She has achieved many awards as tokens of love.
She has published so many poetry books, all available on Amazon Worldwide and other sites. Her YouTube channel is S Afrose *Muse of Writes* and her Facebook page is Muse of Words by S Afrose.
Her email is sabihapoetryparadise24@gmail.com, sabiha_pharma@yahoo.com
1. Please share your thoughts about the future of literature
The universe is vulnerable. We can’t get the right way. We feel hopeless once. But that’s not the option to move on. Then???
Look at there, the field of literary world. It’s amazing and beautiful. Anyone can get the soothing ray and the expressed way of the hidden mind. There are so many unspoken words. We can easily share this with the aesthetic aroma of the literary world. Don’t believe????
Let’s make a clear picture. War and war! It’s making the vulnerable and devastated platform overall. What can anyone see or say???
Nothing is in general.
That’s not. We need to aware the people around the world. People only want peace. No more violent arts.
Pls! Stop this war.
Message spreads as the flying saucers. People can know the genuine thoughts at a time. That’s how, the Literature helps.
So, we have to reserve this amazing and magical method after all.
Literature world will be the good messenger to hold all things, without any sort of restrictions; with its artistic essence around the universe.
WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
***************************
During the time of COVID-19, the total environmental state of the universe was distracted and too much pressurized. The vulnerable time acted as a fume for my journey in the Literature World. I started my work slowly on the online platform. But my love for the literary field was from my childhood.
I love to read poetry and short stories books
Specially science-fiction and detective series.
2 .The Good and the Bad.
Good and Bad- those exist as the dearest peers who fight with each other.
Good: Always shows love. Offers hand of friendship to all.
Spreads the message of heart with love and respect.
Bad: Always comes with a devil’s mirth. Enjoys destroying every beautiful part of the earth. The world should be the hell, without the essence of love and respect.
Oh no!
How pathetic!
Ridiculous this time. The global warming is upright. The ecosystem is falling down.
Early morning losing its beauty. So sad!
Universe is vulnerable with rising power of the global greed.
That’s why, only fighting with power, War, killing people, destroy environment beauty, technology rampant,,,overall, losing the beautiful paradise by the human greed always.
Good cries and sleeping into a desert.
Bad smiles and enjoying its era with the Demoniors’ mart.
WHO IS WINNING IN NOW-A-DAYS
***********************************
Though Bad is overlapping Good, using its penetrated news around the world, by global platform; we can’t escape from this situation. We have to ensure that still good is enough for resurrection the bad tempered souls all over.
The literary world has a wonderful power. It can show the possibility and positivity. It showers the petals of sophisticated and dreamy life.
Living beings, all are here.
People we are, have to declare for the good environment to live happily.
We want peace. Don’t spread negative newsfeed. Use your power wisely.
Your power, wisdom, enough to restore the lost rhythms of the earth. Hold the tears and spread and angelic fire.
Definitely good will survive and will hold all under the humanity umbrella, beneath azure’s hub.
I feel like that. So, I have to use my thoughts of mind, on the pages of the literary world. The power is inevitable.
3. How many books have you written
And where can we find your books?
I have written many books both on Bangla and English, but mostly English poetry books. But there’s a short story book also.
Most of the Bangla books were published in Bangladesh
There are 35+ published poetry books. All are available on Amazon Worldwide and also other sites as usual.
For example- Woman, The Bride, Friendship, A new beginning, Lion’ Roar, Lost Lotus, Who I Am? Blood Sucker, VIBRANT THOUGHTS, A CUP OF TEA etc.
There’s my YouTube Channel: can access for the quick look at a time- S Afrose *Muse of Writes *, also Facebook page- Muse of Words by S Afrose
Recently, I am working as a part of editorial team. And my successful projects are- VIBRANT THOUGHTS, A CUP OF TEA, HAPPY NEW YEAR etc.
4. The book. e-book or physical book-
What will be the future?
So many of us, are too busy attending to the prime artifacts of daily life, that’s why e-books are going to be a good way to help people access books and also a part of their rest.
But, paperbacks are always a better option to carry as a gift, and also the best friend for passing some good moments. It also acts as a reflection of the sweet memories. A souvenir for the family members.
Nothing can beat the essence of reading a book, holding it in the hands; turning pages one by one, marking some words as the dearest arts. The precious gem for refreshing the mind overall.
Just imagine, on the easy chairs or midst the garden in beautiful weather, holding a cup of coffee with the dearest canvas of the words…just wow! This can’t be replaced by an e-book anyway.
5. A wish for 2025
The world is too dangerous for all the vulnerable living beings. The bombastic shimmers can’t be accepted anyway.
* No War* * No Blood*
We all want to live on a peaceful planet.
There should be love within all. Must be the bridge of friendship, wearing the crown of humanity. UNIVERSAL PEACE – this message is the prime gist now-a-days.
If want to say something, holding the hands of literature; then I have to say that, this Literature World has such a power to spread the message of heart and mind, around the world.
Positive emissions can see. Let’s say and spread- Unspoken words with the power of ink. The universe has to understand and love this passage heartfully. Through starlights of literature, we can make a friendly world.
A PHRASE FROM YOUR BOOK:
There’s a poetry book of mine: *No War*
I want to say some lines from this one.
“Stop grudges to protect earth for living happily & peacefully “
‘ Have a look
At each nook
When one door is closed,
Anyway will try,
Another will be here,
Hope to see the smile ‘
A poem from the book
THE FLYING BULLET
Love to hear
The lullaby
Of dear parents.
Love?
Can’t hear that song,
This time.
The flying bullet.
Believe or not,
This is not applicable for the minds.
The flying bullet
Now killing
All the people.
No!
We don’t want to see
This nasty game of the bullet.
A BOOK YOU LIKE
I love all of my books. All are my lovely creations. My best friends. My Reflection of the Mind. So I can’t say anyone specifically. But if want to say now, then will love to share my beautiful soothing charm- A CUP OF TEA .
My dear best friends on this Literature realm have reflected their thoughts, using the magical power of quill. Love for all.
Love the Literature World. Love my dear poetry paradise.
Thank you so much!
EVA Petropoulou Lianou
Author and poet from Greece
Walking Without You
When you passed, thoughts of you only occupied my mind.
I held my pillow at night tightly, and during the day,
I busied myself tirelessly to keep from falling apart.
People say you feel like your heart is going to break.
Mine broke into such small pieces that I wondered
if it would ever be put together again.
I would look up at the sky at night sadly.
The stars used to make my wishes come true,
and the moon used to make me feel hopeful.
But then, they brought only memories of us.
The sun, I hoped, would warm me,
also turned away, leaving me cold inside.
I thought I would shrivel and die with you.
You could not run to me as I held out my arms.
Only in my dreams could I find you.
In my sleep, you wiped away my tears.
The presence of your spirit still wraps around me
when I miss you most.
Years later, I now think of you without such sadness
and bask in beautiful memories of us together instead…
Even though I am walking without you.
__________
Love is Perfect
You need never give up your life
nor give up all wins or costs for me
For no monetary value can be placed on love
And in the end, riches will mean nothing…
Only love will remain and never die
because my destiny you are
What God puts together can not be shaken
For it is through him that all good things come
In this life, things are given and taken away
And even a heathen can change his life
For love is perfect, and our prayers were answered
on the day we met, and will certainly remain far beyond death.
_________________________
Kristy Ann Raines was born Kristy Ann Rasmussen in Oakland California, in the United States of America.
She is an accomplished international poet and writer. Kristy has two self-published books on Amazon titled, “The Passion within Me”, and an anthology of epistolary poems, written with a prominent poet from India, Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai, titled, “I Cross My Heart from East to West”.
She has one children’s short story book coming out soon, titled “Tishya the Dragon”, and a few other children’s stories to follow.
Kristy is also working on finishing two very special fantasy books that have been in the works for quite a few years, titled “Rings, Things and Butterfly Wings” and “Princess and the Lion”.
She is also writing her autobiography titled “My Very Anomalous Life”.
It is her life story that few know about, and the many transformations she went through. She reveals every interesting and sometimes tragic aspect of her life. She shares her failures, victories, tears, joys, losses, heartbreaks, and how she changed, by the grace of God.
A loving family and how two wonderful children stood by her through her transformation to who she is today.
Kristy has received numerous awards for her distinctive writing style and her work as an advocate and humanitarian around the world.
Kristy also enjoys painting, making pottery, writing song lyrics, and being with her family.
She is married, has an older brother and sister, two wonderful children, and is a proud grandmother of three beautiful granddaughters. with one great-grandchild on the way!