Written by Georgiana L. Gheorghe Finishing his masterpiece after hours of work, The poet leaves the comfort of his oaken chair And goes to the favorite place of his study, He nervously pulls the latches up, allowing the window to open. A cool breeze caresses his sweaty face, Followed by the warmth of the sun's rays, A reminder of his loving mother's embrace. He is grateful to the mountains for letting him cut some wood To build his fairy tale house away from the noisy world, Closer to Mother Nature, a good friend of the Muse. Despite the many doors and windows, None was more special than the office window. Pine-scented with angels carved on its frame, Stained-glass, whether opened or closed, It reminds him that there will always be a window of opportunity in life, He just needs to be brave and quick enough to act wisely. © 09/2021

Written by Burhan The old granny again hugged the muddy stairs on the edge of Jehlum, reckoning the ruins of her rusting womb. Wood ashes on head and eye lashes pouring ash made a Dervish to come along a child juggling her own tears. Decades gone, I still watch them and my eyes portray me there - with pen in hand and papers sinking in... © Burhan 2021

DARK SMILES Nights of the dark smiles, Like songs of owls, Adored person cries and A girl, who looked for grief With heart in cold-blooded pain What matters? Who cares? Her breath, she shared and shares! In the ways of my heart In the lands beyond my eyes Was there forever and ever A girl who used to stay there Whom I loved eternally. © Parth Aasim Shaaz Proof of Thy Existence Reading a couple of stories remembered me thy presence in my heart as you still lie there, I ran towards every mirage of thy aura. Last night I lost myself in moon your heart, your lips, your eyes is where the magic lies then I deeply gazed in your heart where often my existence dies. . . © Parth Aasim Shaaz Parth Aasim Shaaz is a 22-year old writer who belongs to the ancient city, Junagadh. He writes poetry in several languages. He also an artist who paints in the love of colors. Parth Aasim Shaaz is energized by several writers or poets, chiefly Jaun Elia, Ameer Imaam, Rumi, Mirza Ghalib and Rabindranath Tagore. Since school, the poet has had a great fondness for literature, books and languages. This masterful poet inks paintings of everything he feels and illustrates the screams of his core.

Written by Safdar Bhatti Passing through the fields a dulcet melody strikes my heart and ear and glided deep into the soul It arrested my feet to tread further a single step. I stood ravished looking around in wilder ecstasy relishing the sweet song coming from the canopy of lush branches woven into one another. © 09/2021

Written by Gordana Andonovska The sounds of conscience sounds are heard... A matching melody with the echo from within who revives our being. Sometimes he lures the tears to come out... As they run down their cheeks, the echo of music echoes louder in the soul... Each note leaves a mark invisible... But deeply engraved in us because every moment is mixed with feelings which remind us of something or someone on our thorny path of life... The sounds that awaken dormant love to the gentle glances in the twilight in a quiet place... A view facing the sky with a prayer on the lips An echo of the choir of angelic voices that fills the heart. © 09/2021

Written by Dr. Zainul Husain Dr. Husain's poem was one of the 16 Biweekly Picks from poems chosen on September 17, 2021. I am the dark horse The world misjudged They cursed my frame They called me a bad name None of them could read My unmatchable strength and airy speed. I needed a chance, A new dawn I needed caring hands And an encouraging heart A master who was well versed In mentoring art. The people who owned me with pride Didn't deserve Even to hold my bridle They gave me only whips In return of my loyalty And true love. I bled, I sighed Those hypocrites always lied The tulip of my talents could not bloom It remained buried unknown That dawn of my dreams died in pain With a Herculean body and Aristotelian brain. © 09/2021

Written by Timothy Oluwafemi Adedeji and Favour Oniya Once broken now freed once caged now emancipated once chained now a king. At last I escaped from evil so glad in front accolades beautifully laid. Let this little light shine up on us all loosened from those chains and darkened corner. Let the light incessantly be effulgent because never again would I be in pain nor in cage be detained yes ceaselessly I would fly. © 09/2021

Written by Farhan Anjum Overcome fears. Fly with your wings. Master your art. It is a hidden treasure. Change in calm waves, In your heart of sea. Transformation of the soul. Among the broad-minded. Applause, tribute For a change. It is a sign of a new day. The day of your rebirth. Unpleasant evening is over. Forever your name will remain. In fiction books. A soul full of light. © 09/2021

Written by Aamir Abdullah I knew You won't ever search for me As you were tired of drinking salted water And undone by watching your statuesque body turning into salt. You were left alone with a single dream Which was one day Misplaced by your sleep You had spilled your only desire Along with the crushed roses into the depths of unfathomable sea You had handed over your tears To the eyes of seagulls And sent them to unfamiliar lands Without tying a billet doux to their wings You lived with Mottles on your dress And the scars on your heart So you.... Hid all the mirrors with white silk And scratched from the eyes Image of your own. Opened your closed fist And freed the love to fly away forever!!! © 09/2021

Written by Smruti Ranjan Mohanty Still thinking about the time the precious time I wasted for nothing. Thinking about them once close to me now nowhere near the horizon. Thinking about my loved ones who took the juice of my life to whom now I mean nothing. Silently brooding over the relationships I cultivated that never stood the test of time. Thinking about the moments I lost to satisfy a few for whom I squandered health, wealth and time who ran away at the first opportunity. Time mocks at me I miserably failed to make sense of it One by one they moved away leaving me to think about time which was once mine. Life laughs at me at my miserable plight the abyss where I am in I often ask me where I erred. "You never valued yourself at any point never cared for the moments that came your way" is the answer of time to my poignant tragedy. © 09/2021

Written by Henry Farrell With lessening ray...the day reads- Past the dark...it succeeds, Of an unfriendly communing clime; And be the purest passion, aloft! Sublime. Need I mention rain? O' the disdain- In descend the bring Of pregnant clouds: And be the falling Somewhat intense! Its infant sprinkle surpassed- As more leaden the gush; o' oxygen-gassed As known each divine day; With the irksome display! 'Tis to believe! Crushed...is the heavenly attain Of the summer's winsome gain- As with the gathered storm, no rainbow; As sadden the sky...with a dim glow--- As not my consume! The day's radiant gleam- Most expedient of a joyful dream. However! Shield aloft! The vapory of warm deluge...may still lie--- Thusly! with lust my vision! I shall look keenly...there, the sky © 09/2021

Written by Sher Chandley A gigantic clap of thunder rouses me out of passing time blots out my thoughts sudden fierce winds accompanies the storm a thick blue-black curtain is drawn over the stars wild flashes of lightning drives birds into mad fluttering. The sudden violence, of the storm enchants me. My way illuminated by gigantic flares brilliant white flash after flash giant drops splatter in the thick dust followed faster and faster until the whole sky is an enormous cataract. My clothes cling to me moulded to my body slip out of them watch branches whipping Black against the glare Green again tomorrow the rain had come! I just stand there the warm rain beating against my skin the weariness suddenly goes out of my soul. © 09/2021