Poetry from Andres Loriente

The Kaleidoscope of Existence 

Older gray haired man in a light gray collared shirt seated in a room with others behind him.

My faithful friend, for so many years

that I can’t even remember when yesterday was,

remains within my being,

laughing and crying by my side.

This time, laughing, he read that no

one knows who their skin color is.

An African poet clarified it, saying that

some are one color

from birth to death, but others

change throughout their lives:

At birth they are pink, in the sun, tanned,

when cold, blue, when sick, they turn green,

and when frightened they appear white,

and when they die they are gray.

* Equal in my soul,

he for giving his life and I for the one

I added by his side.

*From the poet and former Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor (Free translation)

Poetry from Luz Myriam Moreno Puerta

REJECTION

Older middle aged Latina woman with  garland of fall leaves and a yellow top, standing in front of brown and red and green artwork.

The lament groans in the blue

for the yellow that perishes.

From the depths of the soul springs

the protest that wounds.

The cry is a strong echo,

that soars to infinity.

And so,

between patience and pain

the promise is a sunflower.

Luz Myriam Moreno Puerta, Colombian Poet

She was born in the municipality of Frontino, Antioquia Department. She is a psychologist, visual artist, poet, and short story writer. Solo painting exhibitions: 20 Group exhibitions: 35 Recitals: 15 Several of her poems have been published in various anthologies, illustrated with her paintings. She is a member of several collectives, including: Atenea, Escuela Aluna, and Poetas Frontineños.

Poetry from María Cecilia Mazza

Ramona

Young middle aged Latina woman with curly dark hair and brown hair and a jacket, out at night.

She looks at me like this…

as if her pupils could pierce flesh

as if I were a little transparent

through her eyes, her tin gaze is laid bare,

and the rust on her hands

dissolves in pure surrender

She looks at me like this…

as if to touch my heart she didn’t ask permission

She looks at me like this…

from the depths, with her sweet gaze

as if her composure were made of air

and at each point of the weld

among sparks, one had set fire

to her scrap metal life.

She looks at me like this…

Bending her tired back

Drawing her smile between teeth like screws

Searching among the cold figure of her body

for the wandering lines of her bones

She doesn’t need flesh to live

nor blood nor organs

she has a feverish soul of sheet metal and silence

A loneliness of hugs and kisses

She looks at me like this…

Exhausted from so much falling and getting up

leaving between her twisted bends

a heart shining in her wire-like figure.

María Cecilia Mazza Born in San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina, on October 16, 1979, she resides in the town of Pampa Blanca. She has published two books of her own poems, narratives, and drawings: 2017: Corazón de Escarcha (Heart of Frost) 2018: ISAURA She participates in meetings and congresses in different parts of the country and was invited by Norma Domancich to the Juan Botana Poetry Festival. Anthology “International Free Writer I” (International Free Writer Association I) Board of Directors of Esteban Echeverría.

Poetry from Aura Echeverri Uribe

Middle aged light skinned Latina woman with short dark hair and a black top with a ring on her finger.

The Mountain’s Cry

The mountain was robbed of its companionship,

the trees were razed, the grass withered.

The barren earth, without leaves, flowers, or insects,

cries out to the heavens in its sorrow, but no one hears it.

On the summit remains a living being,

a bird has walked.

has traveled in search of someone

to hear its song,

only the echo answers it in a distant sound.

The grass, in its fervor, grows again,

it has not lost hope,

 it dresses in green, shows off its attire

and longs to bloom.

The motionless snow watches

a flower and a bird

that walks without rest,

while the white flower

grows in its silence.

Aura Echeverri Uribe, Colombian. Writer of novels, short stories, and poems. I have published fourteen books: Six novels and eight books of short stories. My first book of poems is with the publisher and will be published soon, and I am currently writing a novel.

Poetry from Turkan Ergor

Young Eastern European woman with shoulder length straight blonde hair, a scarf, a green necklace and black top.

LESSON

Wherever I look

I’m take lesson from

Even from the tree

Even from the bird

I hear a sound

Firstly slower than

Then it gets faster

Thundering

It’s raining

People running away

Rain stopping

Rainbow coming out

And people

Being happy

From this life.

Türkan Ergör, Sociologist, Philosopher, Writer, Poet, Art Photography Model. Türkan Ergör was born in 19 March 1975 in city Çanakkale, Turkey. She was selected International “Best Poet 2020”. She was selected International “Best Poet, Author/Writer 2021”. She was selected International “Best Poet, Writer/Author 2022”. She was awarded the FIRST PRIZE FOR THE OUTSTANDING AUTHOR IN 2022. She was awarded the 2023 “Zheng Nian Cup” “National Literary First Prize” by Beijing Awareness Literature Museum. She was awarded the “Certificate of Honor and Appreciation” and “Crimean Badge” by İSMAİL GASPRİNSKİY SCIENCE AND ART ACADEMY. She was awarded the “14k Gold Pen Award” by ESCRITORES SIN FRONTERAS ORGANIZACIÓN INTERNACIONAL.

Poetry from Nidia Garcia

Young Latina woman with short dark hair, reading glasses, and small white earrings.

VIOLIN

Rehearsing a melody

A radiant young teenager,

dressed up in her room,

practicing her violin.

And so, appearing at a concert,

to which she was invited, the teenager

is a self-confident person.

That she doesn’t give up easily,

since the instrument requires practice

to achieve her goal is a fact, in fact,

she has even become a popular artist,

making music her main theme.

When listening to her, you could notice

the emotions of the audience

as the young woman stood

on stage and won over

everyone present,

thanks to the violin as

the main instrument

or supporting character

in the performance, the violin

is poised to become the star of the evening,

and the young woman is the most notable

for having used the violin as an instrument in recent times.

Nidia Amelia García, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a writer and an active member of Juntos por las Letras (Together for Letters). She has participated in numerous virtual events in Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and elsewhere. She has also contributed to literary anthologies such as “Books of the Immortals” and “Anthology of the 50 Poets of the World 2022.”

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

Slough

The snail shell scatters

Some pick it up some throw it away

Though mine is not like your beautiful eyes

I find the beauty under the morning nyctanthes plants

In your sky, all around the down

In the frangrant morning breeze

What a tune! All the flowers and birds seem to be singing

All the words of life, love and fun are revealed

Life is a reflection of life

Through the darkness of the shell

Hundreds of thousands of lamps emerges daily

What a beautiful, shiny shell of a snail emerges in the raw sunlight!

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.