Thank you a thousand times for being in my life, You worked hard for me,
May beautiful happiness always surround you
You are my only master Shoira
Sobirjonova Rayhona, a 10th-grade student of the 8th general secondary school in Vobkent district, Bukhara region. She was born in December 2008 in the village of Cho’rikalon, Vobkent district, in a family of intellectuals. Rayhona’s parents supported her from a young age and she started writing in the 3rd grade. Her first creative poem was published in the newspaper “Vobkent Hayot”. She has also published extensively in Synchronized Chaos International Magazine, India’s Namaste India Magazine, Gulkhan Magazine, Germany’s RavenCage Magazine and many other magazines and newspapers. She has participated in many competitions, won high places and many prizes. She is still busy creating!
Throughout history, many nations have sacrificed their lives for their people, freedom, and homeland. Among them, the Saka tribes who once lived in the ancient Aral Sea region rightfully deserve a place. In particular, the clash with the Persian king Darius I and the bravery of Shiroq reflect the courage of this people.
In the second half of the 6th century BCE, a powerful empire emerged in the Near East — the Achaemenid Empire. Its founder Cyrus II, followed by his son Cambyses II, and later his grandson Darius I, continued the policy of expanding the Persian state. The next target of their expansionist campaigns became the land of the Saka.
At that time, the Saka were free and warlike tribes living in the Aral Sea region, along the Syr Darya River and surrounding territories. They stood out for their strong cavalry forces, deep connection to their homeland, and independent worldview. The Persians sought to conquer these lands, but the task proved far from easy.
According to Herodotus, Darius I launched a major campaign against the Saka. However, during their march across deserts and rivers, the Persian army encountered severe hardships. Rather than engaging in open battle, the Saka responded with cunning and mobile tactics — luring the invaders deeper into their homeland while gradually depleting their forces along the way.
It was during this very campaign that the legendary act of Shiroq — inscribed in golden letters in history — took place. According to legend, Darius’s army lost its way in the desert. They captured a local Saka named Shiroq and demanded he lead them to water. But instead of betraying his homeland, Shiroq deliberately guided the enemy deep into the heart of the desert — toward destruction. Exhausted by hunger and thirst, the Persian army was forced to retreat. Shiroq, by sacrificing his life, saved his homeland.
This act of heroism proves how one person can change the fate of an entire nation. In the image of the Saka people, Shiroq became immortalized in history as a brave son who gave his life for his land and people. His courage represents the highest form of valor.
The Saka’s success in this campaign was the result of their bravery, patriotism, and unwavering devotion to freedom. They defended their independence not through brute force, but with wisdom, courage, and unity. Today, we must view this historical event not merely as a tale from the past, but as a lasting example of our ancestors’ heroism.
The lesson is clear: history is a cry from the past. It reminds us — “Never forget whose descendants you are.”
Loucif is an Algerian writer who grew up in a family of many members and lived in a house left over from the houses of French centenarians in the neighborhood of arches. Her passion began with telling oral stories to her two sisters before bed, her mother realized her talent and she loved nature, flowers and squirrels, she frequented the school library and read novels in French. She dreamed of becoming a journalist and used to take this profession as a child, she used to make her notebook a microphone and talk to some of her family members. Her writing style caught the attention of her teacher, who registered her in a literary competition and won first place at the age of 12.
She published the novel “The Legend of the Squirrel” in 2016. Another novel “Virginia Park” was published in 2018. She published her first short story collection “Aboud Cannot Endure the Whip” in 2021. Her play “Dance of the Puppets” was adapted from her story “The Puppeteer Moussa and the Others.”
The Squirrel was a bestseller with Golden Jerusalem House, which accompanied the author over nine years of participation in book fairs. This novel was selected in the literature of young people through a competition in which the participants of the Ajlana Library participated and in which a boy and two girls won. As for her collection of short stories, she presented critical readings by critics from Algeria and the Arab world. Among her global achievements is the book Together All of America by the American principled writer Kogetim Hadjari, which she considers Turkish in her honor.
Currently, she is a writer and has a fictional novel The Legend of a Squirrel published in 2016 and signed in front of readers at the International Book Fair in 2017, then presented a romantic novel entitled Virginia Park, then presented her collection of stories Abboud does not bear the whip. Currently she works in the field of cultural journalism in Al-Masar Al-Arabi newspaper.
She won second place in the Arabic Story Competition by the “Narrators Sing” club. Her story “The Squirrel” won first place in the “Tell, Scheherazade” story competition. She received honors on Press Day from the Governor of the state of Médéa. She was honored in children’s literature with a squirrel statue for her novel “The Legend of the Squirrel” in June 2024 by Dar Kuds.
Or stroll through the morning forest catching my breath,
Suddenly, a bud of lightning
Blooms in the sky of my heart.
That flower becomes a spring of poetry,
Whispering a new song
Or gently untangling
The knotted threads of my troubles.
A thrilling ripple striking my heart—
Perhaps it is
A shining jewel placed in my heart
By the Master of the universe who breathes wisdom.
This jewel, flown in on a beam of light,
Is a warm proof
That He lives and loves me.
May this mysterious gift dwell often,
Let me pray daily with a burning heart,
And may the jewels He has poured out
Shine for His joy and glory.
Even when the gift hesitates,
I quietly hold in my heart
The mysterious melody
That my beloved will someday sing.
Spirit
The spirit dwelling deep within the body
Hears a whispering voice above the clouds.
The soul breathing alongside the spirit
Is an antenna catching the world’s vibrations.
The soul listens to city noise and crowd murmurs,
The body sways to soft whispers of instinct’s temptations,
So the spirit often misses the Creator’s gentle breath.
Amid the whirlpool of desires stirred by soul and body,
My spirit firmly grasps
The Creator’s shining shield and sword,
And cautiously feels along the path
Opened by the grace and wisdom flowing from His spring.
O Almighty, who fills all things with light,
Do not leave my spirit to its wavering choices,
But guide my spirit with Your hand,
Illuminating the way with a quiet light,
That I may follow wholeheartedly every day.
Embrace my spirit, trembling with unrest,
In Your warm arms like morning sunlight,
And fill it abundantly
With waves of laughter that seep deep within the heart,
And with the hope of sprouts blossoming toward tomorrow.
Conscience
Every time a wicked thought passes,
In the dark forest of my heart,
A chilling blade grazes the flesh,
Passing like a flash of lightning.
Dark clouds gather and weigh upon my mind.
The river within my heart
Is tossed about like a raft in a storm.
Invisible whispers
Come like a gentle breeze
And illuminate the shining path.
The One who quietly guides from above
Is the lighthouse of the soul,
Shining upon us in the dark, a star that guides to truth.
Wandering the alleys of online political news,
As comments overflow with lies and hatred,
My heart is crushed like a heavy stone,
And my pulse leaps erratically like a cricket.
Even amid the flood of evil falsehoods,
With eyes clear as spring water, beholding the truth,
Let me walk according to the will
Of the Creator of all things.
With drops of prayer,
May I cleanse the lighthouse of my soul.
Wansoo Kim achieved Ph. D. in English Literature from the graduate school of Hanguk University of Foreign Studies. He has published 8 poetry books. One poetry book, “Duel among a middle-aged fox, a wild dog and a deer” was a bestseller in 2012. He won the World Peace Literature Prize for Poetry Research and Recitation, presented in New York City at the 5th World Congress of Poets(2004). He published poetry books, “Prescription of Civilization” and “Flowers of Thankfulness“ in America.(2019), received Geum-Chan Hwang Poetry Literature Prize in Korea(2019) and International Indian Award(literature) from WEWU(World English Writer’s Union)(2019). He published “Heart of God” in America(2020). He published an autobiography book, “Secrets and Fruits of Mission” and a poetry book, “Flowers of Gratitude”(2021). He received India’s Independence Day Literary Honors 2021”(2021). He published the Chinese version of his ebook, “Heart of God,” which reached Amazon bestseller #1(2022). He published poetry books, “Captive of Crazy Love.”(2023) and “Teachings of Mother Nature(2024).
Solely guided by the invisible North Star of conscience?
At times, the black magnet of selfishness
Draws the commander’s calm gaze,
Leading him down twisted crossroads.
At times, the crimson mist of hatred and envy
Clouds the commander’s clear eyes.
During my college years,
When the disease flared like a fierce flame,
I crossed the threshold of darkness many times;
The fierce waves of depression
Pushed the commander off the endless cliff.
O divine architect,
Let the heart of this quiet captain You have established
Always shine like the stars of the night sky,
Untainted and unscarred by the darkness of a sickened self.
In the fierce storms of life,
Secure him firmly to the anchor of justice.
Wansoo Kim (1954) achieved Ph. D. in English Literature from the graduate school of Hanguk University of Foreign Studies. He has published eight poetry books. One poetry book, “Duel among a middle-aged fox, a wild dog and a deer” was a bestseller in 2012. He won the World Peace Literature Prize for Poetry Research and Recitation, presented in New York City at the 5th World Congress of Poets(2004). He published poetry books, “Prescription of Civilization” and “Flowers of Thankfulness“ in America.(2019), received Geum-Chan Hwang Poetry Literature Prize in Korea(2019) and International Indian Award(literature) from WEWU(World English Writer’s Union)(2019). He published “Heart of God” in America(2020). He published an autobiography book, “Secrets and Fruits of Mission” and a poetry book, “Flowers of Gratitude”(2021). He received India’s Independence Day Literary Honors 2021”(2021). He published the Chinese version of his ebook, “Heart of God,” which reached Amazon bestseller #1(2022). He published poetry books, “Captive of Crazy Love.”(2023) and “Teachings of Mother Nature(2024).