cry of a newborn - the aroma of chicken broth wafting from next-door the feelgood sensation of a sated mum bikja ta’ tarbija tat-twelid – tinxtamm ġejja m’għand il-ġara l-aroma ta’ brodu tat-tiġieġa is-sensazzjoni pjacevoli ta’ omm sodisfatta 新生儿哭声 邻家飘来 鸡汤香气 饱腹娘 良好感觉 Christina Chin (Malaysia) / Paul Callus (Malta) [Maltese translation by Paul Callus (Malta)] [Chinese translation by Agnes Chin (Malaysia)] ---------------------------- meraki strokes of passion on canvas the ink of a calligraphy master meraki pinzellati passjonali fuq it-tila il-linka ta’ mgħallem tal-kaligrafija meraki 激情笔触 画布上 书法师 的墨水 Paul Callus (Malta) / Christina Chin (Malaysia) [Maltese translation by Paul Callus (Malta)] [Chinese translation by Agnes Chin (Malaysia)]
Poetry from Sayedur Rahman
Yearning Land In lands afar, where shadows fall, A refugee’s heart, it bears the call, To reminisce of motherland’s embrace, In distant lands, a new life we chase. Our eyes still hold the memories dear, Of homeland’s beauty, once so near, But fate has led them to these shores, Where dreams are forged on distant mores. We long for the scent of native soil, The songs of birds, the daily toil, Yet resilience grows in refugee’s heart, As we strive to make a brand-new start. With hope, we carry our homeland’s grace, A tapestry of memories, time cannot erase, For in our journey, we have found, Strength in unity, on common ground. Though we’ve left our past behind, A refugee’s spirit, resilient and kind, We cherish what was, and what will be, A testament to the human spirit, wild and free. Sayedur Rahman is from Bangladesh's Rohingya refugee camp and the author of "Echoes of Home".
Poetry from Christine Poythress
NIGHT DREAMS I am the night that was the day. Either way breathing grass verdant covering where earthworms squiggle in encrusted dirt far below succotash seams subsumed in pine needles. Time’s strands branches dripping their needles the hair of time around which I’m bound to the gory glory of nightfall where earth’s hair sprouts in darkness in the blackness seeming still yet alive with creatures. Enveloped then dissipated I inhale the moon bringing day.
Poetry from Atagulla Satbaev
Unbelievable palmistry My tongue is crooked, honestly - I can not look into your eyes. Scattered line on my palm is connected to my destiny I deceive myself just like that. I am wandering of searching the line of love in my hand, without finding it in my life ... There are living walls between us There are living walls between us. Draw an invisible boundary. What is the benefit of our separation?! It parts us from our love. Ruthless living walls between us. It is like dying is not meant for them- The tears are just a sight to behold. (Didn't they face with the passion!?) Living walls between us. They part us, even the paths; Constantly looking at us ... We are moving apart further Living devils between us. They will not fall. They are eternal… *** Drown the hourglasses into water, put a rope around the neck of time released its the last breath. Tied the clock hands to the stone I tried to hold off the life and live. But - Could not stop My heart Screaming Just like a clock in my chest ... It is not true when they say We are lack of power when it comes to the time: time loses - when it stops beating My heart Atagulla Satbaev was born on August 10, 1995 in Nukus city, Uzbekistan. His poems were published in local magazines and journals.
Poetry from Nery Santos Gomez
Caballo sobre mi espalda Mis piernas pegadas a tu flanco sudoroso, Apretando con fuerza, mis manos sujetando tus crines. Sin rumbo corremos desbocados. Tus cascos golpeando mi tierra, sonido de castañuelas. Levantando polvo, haciendo camino en tierras de nadie. Ritmo y movimiento, tierra adentro. Adrenalina y susto nos recorren, una bestia sin pensamiento me lleva sin destino. El viento silva en mis cabellos y se cuela entre mis brazos tensos. Nadie lleva las riendas. Corcoveando, tus músculos fibrosos te dirigen. Coordinamos tu carrera. Subimos y somos aire por un momento, caemos y somos tierra al instante. Llano adentro. Donde todo es verde, vigoroso y equilibrado. Me dejo llevar y me convierto en una amazona griega. Llegamos a donde pertenezco, el límite exterior del mundo conocido y lo cruzó, sin fronteras. Soy yo sobre tu espalda o tú sobre la mía. Cabalgando como uno. horse on my back My legs stuck to your sweaty flank, Squeezing hard, my hands holding your mane. Without direction we run wild. Your hooves hitting my land, sound of castanets. Kicking up dust, making way in no man's land. Rhythm and movement, inland. Adrenaline and fear run through us, a beast without thought takes me without a destination. The wind whistles through my hair and sneaks through my tense arms. Nobody takes the reins. Bucking, your sinewy muscles direct you. We coordinate your career. We rise and are air for a moment, we fall and are earth instantly. Flat inside. Where everything is green, vigorous and balanced. I let myself go and become a Greek Amazon. We reached where I belong, the outer limit of the known world and crossed it, without borders. It's me on your back or you on mine. Riding like one.
Photography from Isabel Gomez de Diego
Poetry from Christina Chin/Uchechukwu Onyedikam
Translations to Taiwanese Translator's name: 陳美如 Country: 紐西蘭 (New Zealand) Translations to Igbo Translator's name: Uchechukwu Onyedikam Country: Nigeria Uchechukwu Onyedikam / Christina Chin young stripling bearing the task to her side loading corn stalks on a cart na-eto eto stripling na-ebu ọrụ ahụ n'akụkụ ya na-ebu ọka ọka na ụgbọ ala 少年郎 在她身旁 幫忙扛 把乾草捆 裝手拉車上 * frigid air in the porch the loyal collie wags at its master's whistles ikuku oyi na ihe owuwu ụzọ mbata nkịta na-eguzosi ike n'ihe na-aga na ya onye ukwu ịfụ 門廊上 寒氣逼人 忠實牧羊犬 聽聞主人口哨 搖搖尾巴