Poetry from Mahbub Alam

Middle aged South Asian man with reading glasses, short dark hair, and an orange and green and white collared shirt. He's standing in front of a lake with bushes and grass in the background.
Mahbub Alam

A Trip

Life is a trip

Not to spend in a certain place

Life is a journey

Not to be suffocated in this same way

Life is an experience

Automatically with the time collected

As the water absorbed by the sun in the fields

In the different places of the earth

Like the meteors in the sky

This journey never stops

And a production of many things

With the wheels moving of the machines

Varieties of tastes – pungent, sweet and sour

Make our hearts rising and falling

In a stormy and moderate weather

Ah! A trip is my dream to reach you my goal

I feel my love in my body and soul

Flying from the known to the unknown world

Moulds our thoughts so high in the starry air.

Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh

28 September, 2024

Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.

Poetry from Graciela Noemi Villaverde

Light skinned Latina woman with reddish blonde shoulder length hair, curly at the ends. She's got brown eyes and red lipstick and a small necklace, black jacket and floral black blouse.

Peace

Silence falls like a soft blanket,

on the thirsty, exhausted earth,

a river of calm, that flows without pause,

erasing the echo of the savage war.

The clouds, white doves in flight,

draw a serene canvas in the sky,

where the sun, a master of fire,

paints a new world with light.

The wind whispers a sweet melody,

to the leaves that dance in harmony,

a chorus of life, that sings without noise,

in a garden where peace

blooms and multiplies.

And in the heart, an oasis of calm,

where hope sprouts, like a flower in spring,

a promise of the future, without drama,

a song of peace, that resonates forever.

GRACIELA NOEMI VILLAVERDE is a writer and poet from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Rios) Argentina, based in Buenos Aires She graduated in letters and is the author of seven books of poetry, awarded several times worldwide. She works as the World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers and is the UHE World Honorary President of the same institution Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She is the Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL RELATIONS DIVISION, of the UNACCC SOUTH AMERICA ARGENTINA CHAPTER.

Poetry from Maja Milojkovic

Younger middle aged white woman with long blonde hair, glasses, and a green top and floral scarf and necklace.
Maja Milojkovic

Happiness

Happiness is not a destination, but a journey.

In every moment, even in the smallest things,

there lies a reason to smile.

Life is a beauty revealed

when we stop chasing perfection

and start appreciating the present.

Let every new day remind you

that you are the creator of your own happiness.

Maja Milojković was born in 1975 in Zaječar, Serbia. She is a person to whom from an early age, Leonardo da Vinci’s statement “Painting is poetry that can be seen, and poetry is painting that can be heard” is circulating through the blood. That’s why she started to use feathers and a brush and began to reveal the world and herself to them. As a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and foreign literary newspapers, anthologies and electronic media, and some of her poems can be found on YouTube. Many of her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali and Bulgarian due to the need of foreign readers. She is the recipient of many international awards. “Trees of Desire” is her second collection of poems in preparation, which is preceded by the book of poems “Moon Circle”. She is a member of the International Society of Writers and Artists “Mountain Views” in Montenegro, and she also is a member of the Poetry club “Area Felix” in Serbia.

Poetry from Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa

Light skinned Filipina woman with reddish hair, a green and yellow necklace, and a floral pink and yellow and green blouse.
Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa

Labyrinth

Living in a labyrinth of cages

Of envy, control, fear, greed and rages

Shackled guilt from birth through timeline ages

A never ending hopeless war wages

Silver bracelets round wrists invincible

Yet tight they hold on though invisible

Simple dreams and thoughts unattainable

Self needs and desires unobtainable

Imprisoned in cages against one’s will

No power for an escape to fulfill

Yet in one’s mind a haven came to fill

Untouchable by any hands on till

A free mind no one can ever control

Always free though the flesh may take its toll

Touch the body but spirit has it all

Illusions may be yet soul’s safety wall

Touch me not, better to leave me alone

Be blind and deaf to my tears and my moan

Whisper not of your insincere atone

Numb and wearied of the labyrinth’s tone.

Sweet Little Lily

You are an angel from above

Slipped into my life like a glove

Wings soared gently as silent dove

Heart open for wisdom and love

Come into my world, let sun shine

Lift up my soul, all will be fine

Heal my heart so peace shall be mine

And guide my mind back on the line

Little Lily, my guiding star

Don’t let my pains push you afar

Don’t be scared of my throbbing scar

Sing with my magical guitar

Little Lily, let your love flow

Let hope and dreams in all hearts glow

Little Lily, give us a smile

Compassions ignite for a while

Baby, let me hold on to you

Hug me tightly inside your wings

Baby, let me stay long with you

Hug me tightly inside your wings

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.

Poetry from Lidia Popa

Middle aged light skinned woman with red curly hair and reading glasses with a long shell necklace and a black top.

The Language is an indissoluble bond

There is a decency and a balance that seals healthy bonds.

Through the similarities,

a welding of feelings that resists

to corrosion in time and space

even when we are far away.

Then there is the poet orator in the quintessence of connections.

A ceramic bowl, flowers in autumn colors,

a book for the soul

and occupations to keep traditions unaltered.

Poets from the languages ​​of the world that embrace the Europe of Hope.

We, a Festival of Languages ​​and Poets united for Peace.

BIOGRAPHY

Lidia Popa was born in Romania in the locality of Piatra Șoimului, in the county of Neamț, on 16th April, 1964. She finished her studies in Piatra Neamț, Romania with a high school diploma and other administrative courses, where she worked until she decided to emigrate to Italy.

She has been living for 23 years and worked in Rome as part of the wave of intellectual emigrants since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

She wrote your first poem at her age of 7. She is a poet, essayist, storyteller, recognized in Italy and in other countries for her literary activities. She collaborates with cultural associations, literary cenacles, literary magazines and paper and online publications of Romanian, Italian and international literature. She writes in Romanian, Italian and also in other languages as an exercise in knowledge.

BOOKS

She has published her poems in six books:

in Italy:

1. ” Point different ( to be ) ” – ed. Italian and

2.” In the den of my thoughts ( Dacia ) ” – ed. bilingual Romanian/ Italian AlettiEditore 2016,

3.“ Sky amphora ” – ed. bilingual Romanian/ Italian EdizioniDivinafollia 2017,

in Romania:

4. ” The soul of words” ed. bilingual Romanian/ Albanian Amanda Edit Verlag 2021,

5.” Syntagms with longing for clover ” ed. Romanian, EdituraMinela 2021.

6.” The Voice interior ” LidiaPopa and BakiYmeri ed. bilingual Romanian/Italian, Amanda Edit Verlag 2022.

Her poems featured in more than 50 literary anthologies and literary magazines on line from 2014 to 2023 in Italy, Romania, Spain, Canada, Serbia, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Liban,USA,etc.

Her poems are translated into Italian, French, English, Spanish, Arabic, German, Bangladesh, Portuguese, Serbian, Urdu, Dari, Tamil, etc.

Her writings are published regularly with some magazines in Romania, Italy and abroad.

She is a promoter of Romanian, Italian and international literature, and is part of the juries of the competitions.

She translates from classical or contemporary authors who strike for the refinement and quality of their verses in the languages: Italian, Romanian, English, Spanish, French, German, stating that “it is just a writing exercise to learn and evolve as a person with love for humanity, for art, poetry and literature “.

SHE IS

*Member of the Italian Federation of Writers (FUIS)

*Honorary member of the International Literary Society Casa PoeticaMagia y Plumas Republic of Colombia,

*Member of Hispanomundial Union of Writers (Union Hispanomundial de Escritores) (UHE) and Thousands Minds For Mexico (MMMEX)

*President UHE and MMMEX Romania, August 21, 2021

*She had come power of attorney Vice-president UHE Romania, Mars18, 2021- August 21, 2021

*President UHE and MMMEX Romania, August 21, 2021

*Counselor from Italy for Suryodaya Literary Foundation Odisha India,

*Director from Italy for Alìanza Cultural Universal (ACU) Argentina

*Member Motivational Strips Oman,a member of numerous other literary groups at the level internationally,

*Director of Poetry and Literature World Vision Board of Directors (PLWV) Bangladesh

*Membership of ANGEENA INTERNATIONAL NON PROFIT ORGANISATION of Canada

International Peace Ambassador of The Daily Global Nation International Independent Newspaper from Dhaka Bangladesh – 2023

*Founder literary group Lido dell’anima with LIDO DELL’ANIMA AWARDS

*Founder LIDO DELL’ANIMA Italian magazine

*Founder SILVAE VERBORUM INTERNATIONAL multilingual magazine

*Founder literary currently #homelesspoetry

etc.

Poetry from Hari Lamba

A Poem for America

Breaking of the shackles
A new nation was born
With the breath of freedom
Uplifted by the joy!
The Declaration of independence inspired
That all men are equal!
Endowed with rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Our struggles for democracy hoped to prove
That people are the king!
The brave women of America fought
And won the right to vote
The brave African Americans fought
And won the right to vote
For thousands of years our native Americans
Looked after this beautiful land
To them we must make amends
And restore them in every way
We now must pledge to
To care for each other
And build a sense of community
White, black, brown and others

Brothers and sisters are we all
Natives, Europeans, Hispanics, Africans, Asians and others
Make the beautiful mosaic of our land
Our army is mighty strong
And our soldiers are brave
May they defend our great land
And be fair and just to the world
They put their lives on the line
So we must take care of them
Our planet is now warming up
Looks like it has a fever
Fossil fuels we must leave behind
Green clean energy is our future
For climate change we must lead the world
For we have so little time
Our mothers we must trust to care
For children unborn or born
Our teachers we must trust to teach
The past, the present and the future
The quality of our nation depends on them to prepare
Productive, skilled, moral and caring students
The quality of our nation depends
On healthy, happy and caring people
May the ingenuity of our people blossom

So we lead the world in enterprise
May the big help the small prosper
So the benefits are spread around
Our farmers we must support
So they have joy and pride
They grow the food for us
That helps us to survive
Today, we may stand divided as if we are bitter foes
But we must begin to talk and find that common ground
For that we must abandon all untruths
And face our future with truth and caring
Autocracy and dictatorship we must reject
Democracy we must strengthen to have more
Transparency, openness and accountability
For that is the only way we can
Have true people’s power where people are the king
Hatred, anger and violence we must reject
Love, calmness and nonviolence we must embrace
We must all be brothers and sisters
And express goodwill and take care of others
Macho means to have strength and resolve
To protect others from injustice
To protect others from bullies
The great Chief Seattle told us

“The Earth does not belong to man:
Man belongs to the Earth.”
So let us resolve on this day
To build an America that is green and clean
Our lands and coasts and bays and waterways
Where our brother and sister species prosper again
Where everyone is healthy, happy, sustainably prosperous and at peace
Where our women feel empowered and free
Where minorities join with the majority to build a better nation
Oh! America you can be
Free and happy to eternity!



Poetry from Christopher Bernard

Christopher Bernard will be reading at the Poets for Palestine SF Marathon Reading at Bird and Beckett Bookstore. For a donation of any amount to the Middle East Children’s Alliance, poets can come and read at any time at the store on October 14th, Indigenous People’s Day. Please feel welcome to sign up here or email poetsforpalestinesf@gmail.com to be scheduled.

A Day in October

A child holds his breath

like a frightened pet to his chest.

*

His eye peers through a hole

in the wall of his night room,

in the acid dust of siege

and cage of bone and blood,

in the code of an algorithm

governing AI

that has made the ineluctable

decision he shall die.

*

His eye, brown as honey,

watches you, intently.

*

It is like the eye in a castle wall

where hungry defenders await the burning

arrow vaulting through a sky

dark as velvet,

to break a mother’s shield

and wipe her tears with ashes

*

and build in pillars of fire

a school where future terrorists

(according to the omniscient

and infallible AI),

are learning, even now, their alphabet.

*

_____

Christopher Bernard is an award-winning poet, novelist, and essayist. His book The Socialist’s Garden of Verses won a PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award in 2021 and was named one of 2021’s “Top 100 Indie Books.”