On the seashore

The warmth of the golden sand,

The desire for love in the heart,

If a cool breeze blew,

On the fine sand,

If a double heart was drawn…

If two hearts were one,

If the heart was filled with love,

If your hand was in my hand,

Barefoot, bareheaded,

We would fly in dreams!

Those who see will not recognize,

They will not believe even if they see,

They will not be moved by our condition,

They will pass by smiling,

They will call Leyli Majnun! 

If we sing that song,

“Pomegranate tree, pomegranate flower,

How beautiful is my dear sky”,

Then if we look into each other’s eyes,

As if it were a movie.

The dream took us away,

The weather turned dark,

Suddenly looking at the clock,

We returned to real life,

Farewell to mirages.

Elmaya Jabbarova – was born in Azerbaijan. She is poet, writer, translator. Her poems from 2019 to date were published in the regional and foreign newspapers, magazine’s, books, Web. pages, Anthologies. She has been awarded many certificates diplomas, medals. She is Department manager of Hekari newspaper of Azerbaijan. She is a honorory member of the Writers of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. World Association of People’s Creators, Honorary member of the International Academy of Literature, Art, Culture and Social Sciences of Uzbekistan. She is an Academic. Appointed Koordinator, Secretary General of Azerbaijan, Argentina. She is presented in the book Famous Personalities MultiArt – 5, Argentina. She was a member World Poetic Fraternity. Shewas awarded the title of Global Poet of 2023; 2024. She was awarded the title of World Poet Laureate from Azerbaijan as one of 55 poets selected by Pentasi B Friendship Poetry for 2025.

The Dance Card

$.10 a dance

$.25 for three dances

She sits at a table

close to the dance floor,

hoping to fill

her dance card.

Dressed in her

favourite yellow dress—

the kind of dress

that flares out

when you twirl

across the dance floor.

She watches

as couples rise

and make their way

onto the floor.

$.10 a dance

$.25 for three dances

She holds her dance card

and waits,

hoping that

some gentleman

will ask her to dance.

She sits all alone,

watching couples

turn and twirl

beneath the lights.

$.10 a dance

$.25 for three dances

And still she waits,

her yellow dress

waiting to dance,

her empty card

waiting to be filled.

© Shannon Scoates The Weaver Lantern-lit Truth- spoken Heart-seen. 

Shannon Scoates is a Canadian poet and intuitive writer whose work is rooted in nature, mysticism, and channeled guidance. Influenced by childhood storytellers like Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, as well as poets such as Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, E.E. Cummings, W.B. Yeats, Robert Frost, and RR Token author Terry Brooks, she began writing at age ten as a way to express emotion and truth. Shannon is also an energy healer trained in Reiki, colour, sound, and vibrational therapy, and she is passionate about helping women find their voice through writing and spiritual connection. A devoted advocate for children’s literature and animal rights, she carries forward the encouragement of her Grampa and Grama, whose spirit continues to guide her creative path. Her first book is currently in development.

I AM GROWING OLD

I glide my fingertips over the wrinkles on my face, I am growing old…

Each one depicts something

from my life

but I don’t care.

Not a single artist

could arrange them like this,

shallow, deep, smiling

they look at me from my skin.

I frown in vain,

I didn’t do it,

It’s all God’s work…

The one next to the eye that laughs,

and the one next to the lips

that changes the whole face.

I was growing old

and you danced in my chest,

becoming the most beautiful part of me…

I smiled with my soul, eyes, lips

like an actress on stage.

My wrinkles were beautiful too,

there was more and more room for you

because my skin was getting bigger…

I am growing old, I am slowly forgetting,

I know it was happiness.

I am burning

because my heart is tingling and my thoughts are black,

I AM GROWING OLD

MILKA J. ŠOLAJA, born in Korenica, Republic of Croatia. Lives and works in Belgrade. She has been writing poetry since her high school days. So far, she has published 11 independent poetry collections: “If I Were a Bird”, “Dreams in the Mirror”, “Between Reality and Sleep”, “Traces Will Remain”, “Black and White World”, “I Think Your Hands Are Yours”, “A Tear from Stone”, “I Was Born Alone” and two co-authored poetry collections: “I Dream with Verses” and “My Dreams Written in Verses”, published by “Kulture Snova” from Zagreb. 

The eleventh poetry collection “I Am This I Am” is in preparation for publication, as well as the autobiographical novel “Walking on the Edge”. She writes love, homeland, descriptive, reflective, spiritual and poetry for children. Translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali, Spanish, Greek, Odia, Arabic…

Award-winning, represented in many anthologies, monographs, collections and magazines, both domestic and international. Some poems are composed. Member of: Serbian Writers’ Association, Literary and Artistic Union “Vlaho Bukovac” from Split, “Culture of Dreams” from Zagreb, Institute for Children’s Literature in Belgrade. She is also a member of several International Groups, Forums and Academies for Poetry and Literature, where she has received a large number of awards. 

THE RIVER OF ETERNITY

In the silence of dawn’s embrace,

Where freedom’s song finds its space,

In the whispers of the ancient trees,

Lies the essence of inner peace.

Through the mist of morning’s light,

Where souls dance in pure delight,

In the unity of hearts set free,

Flows the river of eternity.

Beyond the realm of earthly sight,

Where spirits soar in tranquil flight,

In the stillness of the cosmic sea,

Resides the truth that sets us free.

So let us journey inward, deep,

Where love’s eternal flame we keep,

In the sanctuary of our soul’s embrace,

We find the serenity of grace.

Maja Milojković was born in Zaječar, Serbia. She is the deputy editor at “Sfairos” publishing house in Belgrade, Serbia.  She is the vice-president of the association “Rtanj and Mesečev poetski krug”.  She is the author of two books: “The Circle of the Moon” and “Trees of Desire” She is the editor of the International Anthology “Rtanjski stihopevi” One of the founders of the poetry club “Area Felix” from Zaječar, Serbia and the editor of an international e-magazine for creative literature and culture “Area Felix”.

DREAMS THAT FLY HIGH

A girl with her paper airplane, dreams that fly high and far, with wings of hope and freedom, her imagination has no limits. 

The wind carries it and makes it fly, the girl smiles, with bright eyes, her paper airplane, a symbol of dreams, that can take her to magical places. 

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.”

At the Crossroads of the Mind

Once I realized the concentration,

This is a novel theory.

Change of directions,

Little by little the awakening of the feelings of the mind,

A light feeling of vibration in the body.

Heart attraction,

Mirror of moonlit night,

The perception is an exciting one,

How are you thinking?

Flows in the river of love,

Holding tightly both fingers.

A picture of the two of us admitted is a mind map.

Thoughts are colorful.

the call of something new,

Two to two in responsibility,

A peace of mind and happiness,

Two with two for life,

Every kiss in conversation,

A palpable taste of satisfaction,

Embrace deepens,

From thoughts to reality,

A love plagued by illusion.

Date: 21.08.2026

India.

Amb. Dr. Priyanka Neogi is from Coochbehar. She is an administrative controller of United Nations’ PAF, a librarian, a CEO of Lio Messi International Property & Land Consultancy, international literacy worker, sports & peace promoter, dancer, singer, reciter, live telecaster, writer, editor, researcher, literary journalist, host, beauty queen, international co-ordinator of the Vijay Mission of Community Welfare Foundation of India.

CHOICE

The day generously spills

its miracles

At the door they jostle,

already flushed

Something stabs me

near the heart

As if you were still there

Drowsy thoughts take

their shot of caffeine:

Even today, physics

has not dealt good cards

I know that in your fire

I am always present

Yet it wearies me –

this infinite game of pantomime…

This silence is a cry

across nine mountains –

Everyone has chosen

what they must.

Milena Pčinjski, MA – Biography

Milena Pčinjski (Милена Пчињски) was born on October 28, 1986, in Prokuplje, Republic of Serbia, and currently resides in Ćuprija. She holds a Master’s degree in English Language and Literature. She is recognized as an international poet who writes in both Serbian and English. Her poetry has been published in numerous collections and anthologies of contemporary Serbian literature, as well as in international and online poetry compilations. Her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Russian, Romanian, Bengali, and Finnish.

She is a member of several book clubs in Serbia and regularly participates in literary events and poetry competitions. In 2025, she published her poetry collection Verses Imprisoned (Заробљени стихови). She works as an online English professor and also serves as a translator and editor for Area Felix, an international Serbian e-magazine dedicated to creative literature and culture. Additionally, she is a proofreader for the Association of Writers –SKOR, where she also serves as the President for the Pomoravlje Region.

Her collection Verses Imprisoned was awarded the Honorary Silver Diploma by the Orthodox Cultural and Artistic Almanac Arina NN in Nizhny Novgorod in 2025.

Milena is an honorary member of the International Advisory Board of the Academy of Farsala in Greece, as well as of the Global Literary Society, where she received a Certificate of Appreciation for „her excellent contribution to the Global Movement of Positive Literature” from Bhagirath Choudhary, the founder of the organization. She is currently preparing her second poetry collection.