Poem by Iman Yadawar

The city is a wound that language stitches
It's an era where even the sky cannot contain our restlessness
When flying has no place to embrace you, it becomes wandering
Nature is a museum when viewed with today's eyes,
It turns yellow
With this view flowers don't bloom
A century won't display a green painting for us
You see no letter of memory clings to the height of a willow tree!
No one is seen whose soul waves in the heights for a rendezvous
No one is seen who has laid out a prayer rug towards their heart
Everyone prays for their eyes
What's more frightening than
• A human staring at the sky?
Who doesn't say one day a cloud in its final cry
Will return life to the beginning!
Do you think caves will shelter us again?
What a sickness life is!
The earth in place of my heart,
Beats like a round ball inside my body
As if only I hear its cry and no one else cares.
I walk through the streets and no smile rebuilds my path
The streets here wet with beggars' tears
I walk and collect those songs that spill from drunkards' mouths
When they drunkenly [mourn] their lost age
Our city whitened the hair of those
Who wanted the city's heart not to blacken
Oh my God
Why don't you send a rainbow necklace
For the neck of these black streets of our silent city?
Oh my God, give me a planet
Let poets rebuild it
Give me a language
That no one can translate your name into the language of war
Give me a lamp from your light,
So the city won't get lost in darkness
Oh my God, give me a memory so the city won't forget its memories
So that the city will no longer fear you, nor be deceived by Satan, nor kill its poets.
- Iman Yadawar
Iraq

Iman Yadwar is a talented student and poet from Kirkuk, Kurdistan. Born in 2000 in the Karez village of Khalkhalan, she has made a name for herself in the literary world. Her achievements include winning the 2nd Prize at the 2022 Shan Poetry Festival, securing the first prize at the Malay Jabari Festival, and receiving the second Ruanga Award in Iraq. Iman has also been honored with 12 honorary degrees, a testament to her dedication and passion for poetry. Her poems have been translated into several languages, including Persian, English, and Arabic, allowing her work to reach a global audience. As a young poet, Iman's talent and accomplishments have earned her recognition and admiration in the literary community.

True Love, a Short Story by Dr. Shailesh Gupta Veer

Ritu and Parvatesh had met again after years, their sudden reunion in the chilly Delhi winter feeling like a divine coincidence. It had been nearly eight years since they last saw each other.

"You here?" Ritu asked, surprised.

"After joining the Income Tax Department, I was appointed here...and you?" Parvatesh replied, curious.

"Just like that," Ritu said briefly, falling silent.

Both of them got lost in memories of their past, reminiscing about their college days, visits to parks and restaurants, and fun times together. However, their happiness was short-lived, as the painful memories of their separation resurfaced. They recalled the Bollywood-esque drama of their breakup and Ritu's subsequent marriage to Nitin, an engineer, as per her father's wishes.

Despite having a child, Parvatesh had never forgotten Ritu. Overwhelmed with emotions upon reuniting, he tried to hug her, but Ritu pushed him away, aware of her boundaries.

"What are you doing, Parvatesh? I belong to someone else, and you do too. Please respect our limits," she said.

Parvatesh looked crestfallen. "Didn't you truly love me? Have you forgotten me?" he asked.

Ritu's response was poignant. "I still love you truly, and I haven't forgotten you. However, Parvatesh, true love seeks intimacy of the soul, not just physical closeness. The Creator has bound me to someone else, and I must honor that commitment. Perhaps your love was tainted by worldly desires, which is why I couldn't be your life partner."

In that moment, Parvatesh grasped the true meaning of love.

© Dr. Shailesh Gupta Veer

Fatehpur, UP, India 

editorsgveer@gmail.com

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Dr. Shailesh Gupta Veer is a celebrated author, storyteller, critic, reviewer, and editor. His captivating narratives have enthralled global readers, transcending borders and languages. As an accomplished editor, Dr. Veer has curated over two dozen literary books and magazines, shaping the literary landscape. He champions innovation through Micropoetry Cosmos and The Fatehpur Resolution. His stories feature rich imagery, emotional depth, and universal themes, showcasing his mastery of language and narrative craft. A literary icon, Dr. Veer's contributions have inspired new generations, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary literature. His dedication to storytelling cements his leading position.

Banished Dreams, a Poem by Rafia Bukhari

It was an everlasting impression.
Every lock was impacted by rust
Carrying a loss was a profession
All dreams were covered by dust. 

The dashed dreams were kept
The eyes remained wide-open
whenever broken being slept,
The interpretation was stolen.

It arrived early in the morning,
The letter containing the content    
The bond unbroken till the ending,
Banished dreams life to be meant.
- Rafia Bukhari 
Pakistan 

Rafia Bukhari is a Pakistani author and poet who writes in English. born in Larkana, Sindh, on June 15. "The Painful Payment" (2021) and "A Flight of Broken Wings" (2023), her two English poetry books, have already been released. Her books have been well received, even though there are not many English-speaking people in the area. Her poetry frequently finds inspiration in nature, especially in the setting sun. Her poems typically depict internal conflict that results in self-discovery.

She has also translated between forty and fifty sindhi short stories in English. A number of these translations have already been released, and more will be added shortly. At Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, she is currently working toward her MPhil in English with a focus on Shah Abdul Bhittai's Risalo into English.