ICE AGE

Once LA streets were bustling with dense crowds—

people browsing, buying, meeting friends,

hanging out in restaurants and bars

not far from where they live and feel at home.

Then unmarked cars swoop in. Terrorist-types

in street clothes jump out. Masked, and waving guns—

Sig Sauer P320Cs. Storm troopers.

They choose a brown face. Slam him to the ground,

Call him illegal. Cuff him. Drag him off.

Your classic snatch-and-grab. Who are these men?

ICE, they say. Who knows? Guns serve as warrants.

The President’s tax-funded bounty hunters

treat deporting immigrants like sport.

A “No Kings” protest challenges ICE rights.

The uncrowned King sends back-up—National Guard

and tough Marines. Armed soldiers roam the streets

just like in the countries many fled.

Now LA streets are empty. People hide.

Some are legal. Some aren’t. All are prey.

The Mayor calls it overkill. No need

for U.S. troops to threaten LA people.

But #47 wants revenge.

If he can’t conquer Canada or Greenland,

he’ll checkmate California, punish voters.

Liberate the Blue States’ biggest cities–

drain labor from LA, New York, Chicago…

So ICE now raids Home Depot parking lots,

flea markets, Walmart, Immigration Courts.

In one Milwaukee Immigration Court,

ICE barges in; and, when their prey escapes,

roughs up the judge who questions ICE’s tactics.

In Newark, a Congressional delegation

checks out an immigrant detention tank.

The Newark Mayor tries to join the group,

but ICE strong-arms him with a strangle-hold.

Arrests the city’s mayor for trespassing.

A congresswoman, shocked, moves to his aid.

ICE goons grab her, too, say she’s a threat.

Both VIPs are Democrats. Both black.

One Senator meets ICE while on the job–

Homeland Security’s Press Conference.

The Senator moves in to ask a question.

ICE tackles him, and drags him out the door.

Resisting arrest is the purported charge.

His real crime? First, he’s from California.

Second, he’s a Democrat. And third—

the Senator’s Hispanic. ICE’s bane.

On the books, there are protective laws.

But ICE has open mandate to deport

all threats—and every immigrant’s a threat

to keeping gene pools unpolluted white.

So raids lump brown-toned faces all together–

though some have valid visas, some are even

citizens. Courts order a jailed student

released. Demand another be let out

of prison in El Salvador. But law

is not an issue when the real goal

is ethnic cleansing. If you dare protest,

you’re now the enemy. The President

can call out the militia, stamp you down.

Dictators always take this path to power.

Copyright 6/2025               Patricia Doyne

* Milwaukee judge- Hannah Dugan; Newark Mayor– Ras Baraka; Dem. Congresswoman– La Monica McIver; CA Senator- Alex Padilla; Released– Mahmoud Khalil (student) & Abrego Garcia

POETRY 

I can write thousands of poems after your poem

I can write thousands of poems after your poem

Access to a wooden box

A little box without a key

Answer to the question

We never ask

Do we have the key pass part out?

We all leave in matrix

Consuming

Wishing

Wanting more

But no access to our inner soul

The Paradox of Expectation: When Letting Go Brings the Best Results

We are all dreamers, aren’t we? We set goals, envision our future, make plans, and wait. We wait for love, for success, for recognition. We wait for things to fall into place. But what if I told you that waiting too much—or expecting too little—can both lead to unexpected, life-altering outcomes? What if the very act of letting go is the secret to finding exactly what we’ve been searching for?

This article is not based on abstract theories or philosophical ideas written in books. It’s personal. These are thoughts born from my own life experiences—moments of deep disappointment, surprising joy, and the realization that expectation can be both a guiding light and a heavy burden.

Two Extremes of Expectation

Over the years, I’ve found myself swinging between two emotional extremes when it comes to expectation.

First, there are times I wait and wait. I put all my heart into something—a project, a person, a dream. I imagine it fully. I dress it in hope, decorate it with possibilities, and rehearse the joy I will feel when it finally comes true. But life often walks in wearing a different face. The results don’t match my script. It feels like I’ve been holding a beautifully wrapped box, only to open it and find it empty. Disappointment whispers, “This isn’t what you hoped for.”

Second, after experiencing repeated heartbreak or failures, I reach a point where I expect nothing. I say things like, “Let it all fall apart. I don’t care anymore.” I adopt an attitude of emotional self-defense, a wall to protect myself from being hurt again. And then, quite unexpectedly, life knocks on my door with a smile. It offers me something better than what I had hoped for. I whisper a quiet “Alhamdulillah” in awe. It’s as if the moment I stop chasing, life starts giving.

The Burden of Waiting

There is a danger in waiting too long. Waiting can slowly become a form of passive suffering. We wait for things to happen, but forget to move. We hold on so tightly to our expectations that we paralyze ourselves. We stop taking risks. We stop exploring new paths. We stop living in the moment.

I’ve seen people—myself included—who waited for someone to recognize their efforts, for a “perfect” opportunity to arrive, or for happiness to knock on the door. But while we wait, life keeps moving. Time keeps ticking. The world keeps spinning. And often, the doors we were staring at remain closed, while other doors pass by unnoticed.

It’s important to remember that hope is not the same as waiting, and faith is not the same as clinging. Hope says, “I believe something good can happen,” but waiting sometimes says, “I won’t move until it happens.”

The Overachievement Trap

On the other side of the coin, some people pour their entire energy into achieving their dreams. They work tirelessly, sacrifice rest, push through failure after failure. They don’t wait—they run. And yet, even after all this, they sometimes find that the outcome still doesn’t satisfy them. Why?

Because even though the effort was there, their hearts were deeply attached to a very specific result. And when the result didn’t match their inner picture, they felt like they failed. They were so focused on the destination that they forgot to enjoy the journey.

This has happened to me more than once. I worked hard, did everything “right,” and still felt unfulfilled. But then—when I least expected it—something completely different arrived. Something I never even asked for. A surprise. A blessing in disguise. A “BOOM” moment that made me say, “This is what I needed all along.”

Letting Go Is Not Giving Up

Many people mistake letting go for giving up. They think if they stop expecting, they’re admitting defeat. But that’s not true. Letting go is not the same as losing hope. It’s about trusting that the universe, or God, or life itself, knows better than we do.

Letting go means this:

You still work hard.

You still love deeply.

You still dream boldly.

But you release the idea that things must happen in a certain way or at a certain time. You stop trying to control the outcome. You stop tying your self-worth to the result.

In fact, letting go is an act of courage. It says, “I am doing my part, and I trust the rest to unfold as it should.”

Why the Best Things Happen When We Least Expect Them

Psychologists call this the “expectancy paradox.” When we expect something too much, we put pressure on it. We become emotionally dependent on its success. This anxiety can actually block the flow of creativity, joy, and spontaneous opportunity.

But when we are relaxed, open, and detached from the result, we are more likely to notice the quiet, unexpected doors opening. We are more receptive to surprise. We become magnetically attractive to good things—not because we chase them, but because we are not chained to them.

Think about it: How many times have people found love when they stopped looking? Or discovered a new path when they gave up on an old dream?

That’s because sometimes, the best gifts come when your hands are not clenched in desperation—but open in surrender.

Action Without Attachment

So what do we do? Should we stop dreaming? Should we stop making plans?

Absolutely not.

Dream. Plan. Act. Push forward.

But don’t attach your peace to the result. Don’t say, “I’ll only be happy if this happens.” Instead, say, “I’ll do my best, and whatever happens, I will grow from it.”

That shift in mindset changes everything.

You can still apply to that scholarship, write that book, pursue that relationship, or fight for your goals—with full heart. But know that life may have better plans. It may reroute you. And when it does, don’t resist. Follow it. You might just find something far greater than you imagined.

A Real-Life Example

Let me share a real example.

There was a competition I deeply wanted to win. I prepared, practiced, visualized the victory. I imagined the applause, the recognition, the pride I’d feel. I gave everything.

The day arrived. I didn’t win.

I felt crushed. Not because I wasn’t proud of my work, but because I had expected the outcome so vividly that I couldn’t separate my effort from the result.

But weeks later, something strange happened. A different opportunity—completely unrelated—came into my life. It turned out to be a doorway to a bigger stage, better connections, and deeper fulfillment. It was a bigger blessing than the one I had hoped for. I wouldn’t have found it if I hadn’t lost the first one.

That’s when I learned: sometimes, your loss is a diversion, not a defeat.

Final Thoughts: Let Results Find You

The truth is: life is full of surprises, some painful and some breathtakingly beautiful. We are not meant to control everything. We are meant to participate, contribute, love, grow—and then trust.

Don’t stop dreaming. Don’t stop trying. But release the pressure to know how everything will unfold.

Let go of the timelines.

Let go of the fixed outcomes.

Let go of the fear that if it doesn’t happen your way, it won’t happen at all.

Sometimes, the very thing you’re chasing is just waiting for you to stop running—so it can find you where you are.

So here’s my final advice, drawn from experience:

Do your part. Work hard, give your best.

Stay open. Be flexible to life’s surprises.

Detach from the outcome. Trust that what’s meant for you will come.

Celebrate every step. Even the failures lead somewhere.

Let life surprise you.

Because when you stop waiting so desperately, life may just show up at your door with a gift you never expected—but always needed.

Surayyo Nosirova Elyor qizi was born on May 13, 2006, in the Narpay district of the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan. From an early age, she showed a deep interest in literature, languages, and creative expression. Her passion for learning and writing became evident during her school years, where she actively participated in various academic, literary, and cultural activities.

Currently, Surayyo is a first-year student at the Uzbekistan State University World Languages university, specializing in English Philology and Teaching. She is known for her strong academic performance and her dedication to mastering the English language. Her commitment to education extends beyond the classroom—she is the author of three published books: Heartfelt Thoughts, Voices in Writing, and Beyond Words: Mastering English. Each of these works reflects her insights into language learning, writing skills, and the emotional depth of student life. 

Reverie

A perfectly new morning
The hidden hydrangeas hide in the blush
A soulful symphonic trodden path
For full of nectar the heaven drank
The river runs deep ahead
Porcelain touches lose my vision
Yet the morning is beaten against
The sweeping currents of adversity
Proclivity for the blissful hippocrane
I hear a Byzantine reverie
Enter the summer breeze breeding of beads
For the first touch of dropped waterfall. 

Moss

Dewdrops around my clock table
A newly refurbished watch
The steel clean peel the orangy desk
The rumination stales around
A heavy buzzkeep silence
The opulence of tall heavy strain
Straight out of the hillsides 
The air mists a blue hour
My peonies are hung around
The bonnets are wet dried
My nestled dropped homeskill
To myriad ways the honey touch smile
And kill the open ended questions
Before they end before the red postbox
It stays around 
Whatever we try to ponder on
As the river slithers around 
My new desked moss.

(Young Central Asian woman in a black coat with buttons on the sleeves and a white frilly blouse, seated in a cafeteria with yellow chairs).                                                 

A NEW DAY

Dewdrops dance on leaves, in gardens nestled so deep,
Softly drifting, clouds above sing lullabies in sleep.
Like the scent of a tulip, sorrow lifts from the soul,
While grandmas pray for peace and health, making the people whole.

Grass blades greet us warmly, heads risen in delight,
Listening to the cranes returning, crying through their flight.
In emerald green that charms the eyes, they reach toward the skies,
Sunlight glimmers on each bud like gold in children’s eyes.

Some have lived to see these days, and some have not, it’s true,
But spring still whispers words of joy that gently pass on through.
From parents’ heartfelt blessings bloom joy and inner grace,
And on the sky of fate we see youth’s star take its place.

With spring anew, a brand new day, forget the shadows past,
Let pure intentions simmer like sumalak in the pot at last.
Let kites that soar in skyward flight sweep grief from every heart,
And let us share the blooms of love, together, never apart.

Welcome back, O Spring, to my land! You’ve brought such dazzling cheer,
For the sixteenth time I face you, smiling with eyes so clear.
How many times we’ll meet again, I do not truly know,
But angels built a palace in my soul for you to glow.

Gulmira Ravshonbekova, daughter of Ruslonbek,was born on August 29, 2005, in Khiva city, Khorezm region.Currently, she is a second-year student at Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Beruni. She is a recipient of the “Ogahiy Scholarship” and the “Governor’s Scholarship”. Her first collection of poetry and prose, titled “Love for Enchanting Words”, has been published.She is a winner of several international, national, and regional Olympiads and competitions. Gulmira is also a member and certificate holder of the “Kyrgyz Poets and Writers Fund” of the Kyrgyz Republic. Additionally, she represents Uzbekistan in the international organization “National Human Rights and Humanitary Federation”.Her academic and literary works have been published in journals and anthologies in countries such as Germany, the USA, Turkey, Canada, India, Poland, and others.                                                                                             

My Mother — The Sun of My Heart

Before I ever saw the world so wide,

You held my hand, a silent, guiding light.

At night, you shone like stars that brightly glide,

Your love — my strength, my soul’s most precious right.

You taught me patience with each passing day,

And bore life’s burdens with unshaken grace.

Within your eyes, I found my secret place —

I’ll never forget your love’s endless ray.

When the world pressed hard upon my soul,

You opened your arms, absorbing my pain.

Though you were burning, you’d never let it show —

For me, you lived, enduring in silence again.

Oh Mother, no words could ever define,

Your love — a river that knows no end.

In my life and soul, you eternally shine,

The only true light my heart can send.

Without you, what’s left in this heart of mine?

Cold nights would burn it with silent cries.

In every storm, your prayer is enough —

Your every word, a star in my skies.

The older I grew, the more I could see:

Each breath you took was a silent sacrifice.

If now I shine like a star in the sky,

Know — my light is just your love in disguise.

Life’s trials were sharp as a sword’s cruel blade,

But you walked beside me like a gentle shade.

In heavy moments, you carried hope’s flame,

Never once saying, “Poor me,” — never in shame.

Now I stand as someone my homeland needs,

Your lessons — the foundation of my soul.

Each of my triumphs, each noble deed,

Is a gift to you, who made me whole.

You are my quiet muse in every day,

The light of truth shines deep in your gaze.

Even in dreams, may you still softly pray —

With you, life blossoms in beautiful ways.

Though fate may pave my path with stone,

The strength I bear is from your heart alone.

In my soul lives a word beyond compare —

Each work I begin starts with “Mother” there.

Turayeva Sadoqat Kahramonovna was born on March 26, 2005 in Gurlan district, Khorezm region. After graduating from school No. 23 in Gurlan district, she studied at the Academic Lyceum of Urgench State University between 2021 and 2023. Currently, she is a 2nd year student at the Faculty of Philology and Arts of Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhon Beruni.

MUNAVVARA SOLAYEVA – THE OWNER OF SCIENCE AND CREATIVITY

Munavvara Solayeva is the first female PhD holder in philology from Urgench State University. The scholar was born on February 2, 1925, in the city of Khiva. In 1954, after successfully defending her PhD dissertation, she was assigned to the Khorezm State Pedagogical Institute. Munavvara Solayeva was one of the pioneers of this prestigious institution, dedicating her entire career to its development. She was among the first women to boldly travel to Moscow, where she defended her dissertation in Russian on the topic “The Lyrics of Uyg‘un”. She devoted 34 years to scientific and teaching activities at the institute where she began her career.

       In 1993, her monograph titled “Navoi and the Poets of Khorezm” was published. In recognition of her lifelong contributions, academic achievements, and ethical qualities, the university administration established a state scholarship named after Munavvara Solayeva.

      One of her exceptional qualities was her poetic talent. Over the years, her numerous scientific, journalistic articles, and poems covering relevant social and literary topics were published. These works, including poems and ghazals, have been compiled in a collection titled “A Heart in Love with Science”, prepared by poet, writer, and member of the Uzbekistan Writers’ Union, Qurbon Muhammadrizo. The book was published by Ogahiy Publishing House in 2023. The presentation of the book took place at Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Beruni in a highly spirited atmosphere. As a student, I also participated in the event, where we expressed admiration for Munavvara Solayeva’s courage and remarkable achievements as a woman. We aspire to become brave, active, and dedicated educators and scholars like her.

         The collection “A Heart in Love with Science” includes Munavvara Solayeva’s journalistic articles on important topics such as “What is Humanity?”, “The Literary Relations of the Two Shores”, “The Sultan of Poetry”, “The Owner of Bright Creativity”, and “The Scholar of Poetry and Art”. It also features her scientific articles such as “One Poem”, “The Pain of Poetry, the Love of Science, the Magic of Art”, “The Spirit of Navoi Protects Me…”, “May Your Flight Be High”, “The Evening Came to My Hut”, “The Tragedy of the Ghazal”, “Navoi’s Traditions in Ogahiy’s Lyrics”, “The Image of Women in “Khamsa” “, and “Navoi’s Spring Melodies”.

         By reading these works, readers gain a deep understanding of the historical period, the life, and the creative path of each literary figure discussed, along with new and comprehensive reflections on their legacies. The collection also presents her heartfelt poems such as “To My Mother”, “My Father”, “Navoi and Ogahiy”, “Fable”, “Ode to Spring”, “The Book”, “The Muse of Inspiration”, “Winter and Spring”, “Black Eyes”, as well as her ghazals with refrains “Are You My Beloved?”, “I Am Devoted”, “I Seek”, “Regret” and her muvaššah (poetic form) “The Teacher”. The poetic garden of her works stirs the hearts and touches the souls of readers, undoubtedly leaving a lasting impression on every admirer of literature.

Iroda Rakhimova Islombekovna was born on August 8, 2005, in the city of Khiva, located in the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. She graduated from the School number 11 in Khiva with a gold medal and was admitted to Urgench State University named after Abu Rayhan Beruni on the basis of a state scholarship. Currently, she is a second-year student at the Faculty of Philology and Arts at the same university. Her poems, short stories, and articles have been published in both national and international journals. She is an active member of the “Mushoira” literary club established at the university and continues her creative work through this platform.