Monday, April 1, 2019

NILAVRONILL SHOOVRO


WELCOME
TO
OUR POETRY ARCHIVE

Dear readers; with this April number Our Poetry Archive is in its fifth year of web publishing. We have successfully completed four years over the net with 48 monthly web editions and four Anthologies. It was 1st April 2015; the first issue of Our Poetry Archive was published. At that moment even I had no idea about the future of OPA. Yet it was my dream to create a monthly poetry journal over the internet where writers from different literary traditions with different cultural heritages would gather and exchange their literary vision through their own literary merit and poetical brilliance. No, not at that point of time, when I was preparing that particular first issue of OPA, I had any idea of its future success. Yet I had that belief in my mind with a clear conscience that this cultural exchange between people of different parts of the world with different racial, religious, and national backgrounds is an essential aspect of the human civilization. Poetry is actually an instrument to express the rhythm of our life and also to carry forward the essence of that rhythm towards the future generations as well as towards other communities.  Actually poetry brings different souls closer to each other. They touch the inner cords of the hearts and can create a symphony of human souls dancing with the tune of the eternity. We at Our Poetry Archive really do believe this from our heart. All our efforts always remain along with this direction only. Yes, we have come along more than four years across this path to bring different cultural traditions and literary heritages more and more close to each other. We hope our mission will pick-up to the next gear in the upcoming years with the constant support and contributions of our poets and readers around the world. So I do feel that poetry is a vital medium of cultural exchange.  This belief has propelled me physically to create Our Poetry Archive and to publish it monthly so that we can accommodate a considerable volume of poetry over the time. And yes, since then we are doing this phenomenally.

And during this phenomenal journey I am really fortunate enough to get unconditional support and tremendous help form few extraordinary people who realized this concept and liked my vision. They have eventually joined in the editorial team to put forward my dream project and have helped OPA to gain international fame through their hard work. Personally I’ll remain ever grateful to each of them. And what OPA has achieved today in the literary field worldwide, credits definitely go to them. I would like to introduce them all to our readers once again.

ALICJA MARIA KUBERSKA – awarded Polish poetess, novelist, journalist, editor. She writes both Polish and English. She is an author of many volumes. Her poems have been published in numerous anthologies and magazines in Poland, Czech Republic, the USA, the UK, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Israel, Canada, India, Italy, Uzbekistan,  South Korea, Taiwan and Australia. She won : medal on Nosside poetry competition in Italy, medal of European Academy Science, Arts and Letters in France, statuette in Lithuania. She was also twice nominated to the Pushcart Prize in the USA. Alicja Kuberska is a member of the Polish Writers Associations in Warsaw, Poland and IWA Bogdani, Albania. She is also a member of directors’ board of Soflay Literature Foundation.


ANCA MIHAELA BRUMA: Educator, lecturer, performance poet, eclectic thinker, mentor with staunch multi-cultural mindset and entrepreneurial attitude, Anca Mihaela Bruma considers herself a global citizen, having lived in four continents. Her eclecticism can be seen in her intertwined studies, she pursued: a Bachelor of Arts (Romania) and a Master of Business Administration (Australia). The author labels her own writings as being “mystically sensual”, a tool and path for women to claim their own inner feminine powers. She uses poetics as a form of literary education, self-discovery and social. Anca-Mihaela Brumă strives to continuously challenge and change the world we live in by means of ART, and it is by breaking away from old traditions that she invigorates the art world in pursuit of a new emotional intellect. It is central to her own belief that it is her duty to empower, motivate, inspire, educate and heal. The awakening of the latent gifts we all perhaps unknowingly possess is also central to her quest. In an astute and complex combination of art forms,

Dr. APRILIA ZANK is an educationist, freelance lecturer for Creative Writing and Translation Theory, as well as a multilingual poet, translator, editor from Munich, Germany and an Author of the Poetry book BAREFOOT TO ARCADIA. Born in Romania, she studied English and French Literature and Linguistics at the University of Bucharest, and then moved to Munich, Germany where she received her PhD degree in Literature and Psycholinguistics for her thesis, THE WORD IN THE WORD Literary Text Reception and Linguistic Relativity, from the Ludwig Maximilian University, where she started her teaching career. The research for her PhD thesis was done in collaboration with six universities from Europe, and as a visiting lecturer at Alberta University of Edmonton, Canada. Dr Aprilia writes verses in English and German, French and Romanian and was awarded a distinction at the “Vera Piller” Poetry Contest in Zurich. Her poetry collection, TERMINUS ARCADIA, was 2nd Place Winner at the Twowolvz Press Poetry Chapbook Contest 2013. In 2018, she was awarded the title “Dr. Aprilia Zank – Germany Beat Poet Laureate”, by the National Beat Poetry Foundation (USA). She has been an acclaimed guest at cultural events in Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Turkey, Singapore and Romania, where she read her poems, delivered lectures on various topics. Her poems and articles are published in many ezines and Anthologies of different countries.

DEBORAH BROOKS-LANGFORD (poet, novelist, and writer) was born in Gastonia, NC July13 1951 (a military brat so-to-speak). She was the oldest of eight children. Deborah went to High School, in Columbia; SC. They lived in Germany and Spain and Turkey.  Her father's side of the family comes from Cherokee North Carolina and her mother's families are English. She now resides in Covington Tennessee. Deborah has been writing poems all her life. Her passion is poetry.  She loves to write—writing and poetry and stories are her life. She is a published Author of forty-eight books. Deborah has been in so many anthology books that she cannot count. Deborah has co- wrote lot more poetry books with talented poets. Deborah is Vice President and co-owner plus Marketing director and accountant with WILDFIRE PUBLICATIONS, LLC. She wears many hats. Although she is retired she couldn’t sit still and that’s why she started writing professionally.

LEYLA IŞIK: Educator, poet, writer and artist. She is a member of the 'World Nation Writers Union' and chief representative WNWU in Turkey. She completed the primary and secondary education in İzmir. She studied at the Teacher Training College in Uşak.  She graduated from the Faculty of Education of Eskişehir Anadolu University and retired from the primary school. She is Vice President of KIBATEK and International Organization and Project Coordinator. Leyla Işık has received many valuable awards in her literature life: 2003 - İKSDER  İzmir Culture and Art Association "Halikarnas Fisher Cevat Şakir" First Prize Poetry Award, 2008 - Şaire Mesheti Gencevi (MŞM) Honorary Diploma on behalf of Azerbaijani Baku Poet Mesheti Genjevifor Serving Turkish World Literature. 2015 World Young Writers Association (DGTYB) Literary Award. 2016 Rumen Dialect, Poetry, Art, Literature Platform International Literature, Friendshipand Peace Prize. 2017 Pablo Neruda Cultural Association "Neruda Award". 2017 Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry 2017 ”Universal Inspirational Poet 2017” award.

MARIA A. MIRAGLIA: Born in Italy, has an expanded consciousness and considers herself a cosmopolitan. She loves travelling and interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures. A long time member of Amnesty International for the defense of Human Rights, she herself founder of World Foundation for Peace. She graduated in Foreign Languages and Literatures and got a Master’s degree in Evaluation and Assessment at  Aldo Moro University of Bari; a Master’s degree in Teaching of Modern Languages at the University of Rome and the HLC (highest- level Certification) from Trinity College-UK. Maria taught in public high secondary schools, was lecturer in courses for post-graduate students, in courses for language teachers, was tutor in English, Scottish and Irish colleges for Italian students and collaborated with the Department of Education for studies and projects relating to international language certifications.

STACIA REYNOLDS: She resides in the state of Ohio, United States of America. She is an Independent Contracting Editor and Freelance Writer, Poet, and the Published Author of Escape Down the Roman Road, A Poetic Journey Through Life, and is also published in various group poetry collections. She is also on the Editorial Team of “Our Poetry Archive.” Stacia began her English degree at Owens Community College, continued her BA in English through the University of Phoenix. She is now finishing a degree in Biblical Studies, through Ohio Christian University. She is 46 years old, a follower of Christ Jesus, whose life’s goal is to encourage others with her words.

And now we have a new member form Kolkata in our editorial team. She has recently joined OPA.

IPSITA GANGULI: She describes herself as a student of the myriad experiences that life holds out. She is quintessentially a “people’s person” and relishes connecting with a variety of lives. Post a 20 year career in the corporate world, including telecom, logistics and luxury hotels, Ipsita has now embarked into a whole new journey trying her space out in the world of industrial manufacturing of enamel and ceramic frits.  All through her life she remains a compulsive scribbling her emotions at the back of a notebook or on a tissue paper. Her poems have been published in several national and international e zines and anthologies over the years. Her recent book” Of Love, Longing and Random Pondering” was launched in the Kolkata Book Fair.

And finally I would like to thank all our poets; it is only for their continuous support and contributions that has helped us to achieve this so far. We’ll remain obliged ever to each of them. Thank you all.
From The Editorial Desk
OPA
A
WORLDWIDE WRITERS’ WEB
PRESENTATION!

PUBLISHED BY

OPA

OUR
POETRY ARCHIVE
ONLINE MONTHLY POETRY JOURNAL
email us to:
**************************************



IULIA GHERGHEI

OUR POETRY ARCHIVE FEATURED
POET OF THE MONTH
IULIA GHERGHEI
APRIL 2019

ALICJA KUBERSKA: What does poetry mean to you?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Tough question! Poetry is my shield against the ugliness of this world. Like a sunscreen, poetry reshapes all the steep angles and filters all the consequences of envy.


ALICJA KUBERSKA: What’s according to you the meaning of poetry in the contemporary world?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Same as always: to bring to the surface the naked truth on all the topics in hand at this moment.


ALICJA KUBERSKA:  Can you describe your creative process while writing a new poem?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Oh, but I don't have a process, where the inspiration strikes, I start writing, in the bus, at my place of work, in front of the TV set, sometimes, even when I am waiting another poet to read his creation at a poetry reading venue.


ALICJA KUBERSKA:  Did it happen to you that a poem was just your dream?

IULIA GHERGHEI: No, it didn't happen. I had many repetitive nightmares as a child so I evaded them while awake. For some of these nightmares I find answers even now.


ALICJA KUBERSKA: Tell us about your inspiration. What’re the most important subjects to you?

IULIA GHERGHEI: It seems my most important topic in my poems is the weather and its effects on my mood.


MARIA MIRAGLIA:  Which were the emotions that inspired your first verses?

IULIA GHERGHEI: I remember my first poems were in fact little attempts of understanding death, to overcome the fear towards it, to cope with my mother's suicide.


MARIA MIRAGLIA:  Was your aspiration to become a poet or did all happen by chance?

IULIA GHERGHEI For me, being a poet was written in my genes, I had no chance but to be a poet. I am a poet’s daughter.


MARIA MIRAGLIA:  Who is the first person you read your poems to and why?

IULIA GHERGHEI: I read my first poem to my classmates on a poetry contest organised by our teacher. I won that contest. Later on, I would read my poems to my father as he was a poet too.


MARIA MIRAGLIA:  Have you published any poetic anthology, if so what did you feel the first time you got it in your hands?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Oh, yes, the feeling is overwhelming. It was so powerful that I have second thoughts on publishing another. I don't know if I can cope with so much emotions… My anthology is named “Prisoners of Cinema Paradiso “ published on blurb.com by Brian Wrixon in 2012


MARIA MIRAGLIA:  Who are the poets you prefer reading? Do you get inspiration from them?

IULIA GHERGHEI: I have many poets friends on Facebook, I read them and, yes, I learn from them. My favorite poets are Romanian and they are Nichita Stănescu, Grisa Gherghei and Marin Sorescu.


APRILIA ZANK:  How important is accessibility of meaning to you? Do you challenge the readers to work hard to decipher your poems, or do you prefer transparency of meaning?

IULIA GHERGHEI: I prefer to challenge the reader, that way the poem gets under their skin and starts working its spells.


APRILIA ZANK:  What kind of poems do you write mostly? Do you have recurring themes, or are all your poems unique?

IULIA GHERGHEI: In one way my poems are unique but lately I noticed some recurring themes too. It seems I have an obsession for fog. Once in my youth, I got lost on a mountain trail and to make everything worse, the fog was so thick that I couldn't see two steps in front of me.


APRILIA ZANK:  Do you think your poetry is typically feminine / masculine? If yes, in what way?

IULIA GHERGHEI: No, I don't think about poetry in these terms, poetry is poetry.



APRILIA ZANK:  Do you write mostly about yourself, or do you also have an open eye /ear for the issues of the world?

IULIA GHERGHEI: My poems are about me most of the time. The world issues stick in their ugly face and I do write about them occasionally.


APRILIA ZANK:  In what way is your poetry different from that of other poets?

IULIA GHERGHEI: My poems are short enough not to bore the reader. My poems are intricate so the reader must read them at least twice to sip their meaning. My poems are addictive. The last assertion is more of a wishful thinking scenario.


LEYLA IŞIK:  What are the main factors to make poetry real poetry?

IULIA GHERGHEI: As I see it, there is only one factor, authenticity.


LEYLA IŞIK:  Do you think imagery is important in poetry? Where does the importance of imagery begin in a poem, where does it end?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Sure, imagery is important but it is only a mean to an end. One might crowd its poem with so much imagery that the message gets lost, suffocated, completely out of focus.


LEYLA IŞIK:  What are the most used types of poetry in your country?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Nowadays our poets prefer to write poems without rhyme, as I do myself.


LEYLA IŞIK:  What’s important to be a good poet? To write good poems!

IULIA GHERGHEI: For me and my sanity it is important to write. If I am a good poet or if my poems are good, my readers have to decide this issue.


LEYLA IŞIK: Who are the most important poets and their main properties nowadays?

IULIA GHERGHEI: All the poets are important. You must be patient and search for the meaning. The main property of today poets should be straightforwardness. We live very dangerous times.


DEBORAH  BROOKS  LANGFORD:  Understanding poetry begins with visualizing the central images in the poem. What do you see, taste, smell, hear, and feel? What is the imagery of your poetry?

IULIA GHERGHEI: I don't know if a poem must be necessarily understood, it can be tasted, felt, smelt, it may leave the reader in total amazement, struck by beauty or by darkness, scorched by pain or elevated to the gods… A My poems are a mean of transportation to intricate universes.


DEBORAH  BROOKS  LANGFORD:  What is the mood of your poetry? (Or How does it make you feel?)

IULIA GHERGHEI: The mood in my poetry is different. A different kind of dark, a different kind of sad.


DEBORAH  BROOKS  LANGFORD:  In your poetry who is the speaker of the poem? Are you speaking to yourself or to others?

IULIA GHERGHEI: In the majority of my poems I am the speaker, the story teller.


DEBORAH  BROOKS  LANGFORD:  What is the message of your poetry?  What messages do your poetry convey?

IULIA GHERGHEI: The message of my poems is that healing, happiness, fulfillment are a process not a goal.


DEBORAH  BROOKS  LANGFORD:   Does the internet and social media contribute to the success of your poetry? Is this the reason you write for?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Yes, the social media helped me a great deal. My voice got heard. My poems were appreciated. I have many friends that read my writings and I am so very grateful to them but success was never my goal. I hate promoting myself so for sometime now, I post my poems only on my wall, only for friends.


NILAVRONILL SHOOVRO:  Thank you so much dear poet for the interview. We would like to know your personal experience with OPA as a literary web journal. Would you like to share anything more with our readers?

IULIA GHERGHEI: Thank you for interviewing me! OPA, the web journal is a huge opportunity for all the contemporary poets.



IULIA GHERGHEI



IULIA GHERGHEI

FIRST PRAYER

I open my ear to you
Whisper your secrets to me!
From your dark velvety cloth
unfold your vibrato
to my huge bleeding inner ear
Pour one drop after another in a downfall
of black holes swallowing galaxies like there is no tomorrow
this time in a reverse manner
Pour your symphonies
Blast by blast
String by string
Vibrato with vibrato
Universe after universe
Break the deafness that builds dark matter ceilings in the way of your light





THE ANATOMY OF SPRING

Already spring
For days, the blue sky  was announcing
A new season
The birds caught their song from a blessed wind or maybe Cupidon himself brought
The chirping back with his arrows
Already spring
New broken veins on my feet
A map of little deaths preparing me for the leap
Into a forever spring
Yes, I have decided
Death is a sea of hyacints
A field of tulips
A waterfall of white petals soaring
Whirling, covering all ruins
Already spring, my cravings for green blades of grass, fully dressed in green trees, large smiles stretching the wrinkles of winter...
My cravings are finally over, forgotten, melted in the pot of all seasons
In every cell of my flesh spring builds its nest
Little wings of hope will elevate my mood
Already spring and I am wearing red shoes





EVENING WITH CONTRABASS

All the women from that place
Were smelling of opium
Opium
Opium
Opium
Once I've almost fainted due to this fragrance
This time I've started to cough
All of the sudden
While the poet was whirling his lips so roundly
In his far away Spanish
I've stepped back from the stage with a kind of anguish
A hatefulness on these poets' women
The debauchery was bursting out from under their bangs
It seemed that a sort of pair matching was taking place
The last year mistresses were looking for fresh new budding poets
The poet, Spanish to the core, except his name
Was typing furiously and the contrabass kept him company
The muses took place one by one in front of him
And he successfully pretended to be inspired by them
The chanteuse had her skirt splitted up her waist
Enough to inspire even the walls
I've left
That damned perfume was knotting my respiratory routes
The poets were already cuddling the nude of the contrabass
Opium
Opium
Opium






ONE OF THOSE DAYS

It was one of those days when
The victims, my victims
Piled in the back of my mind
Have gathered forces and started haunting me
They made the walls crumble
The floors got fluid
I was walking but also swimming and kind of drowning too
No, it wasn't the house of horror
No deceitful mirrors either, they've been previously broken
The shards  pierced my soles
And I was still jumping up and about
When the skeletons
laughing like crazy
decided to visit me
They joined the victims crowd
And started playing the amnesia game





I SHOULDN'T MURDER MY SISTER

I shouldn't murder my sister
The imaginary one, of course
She was nice and we had great conversations
The white walls were always her inspiration
She would paint horses
Talking horses, at least that was my impression
They had verses around their mouths
I remember asking her if they could fly
She leant her head to the right
Like a painter
No, that is a cliche
It is enough that rhymes are hanging from their snort
And then, just then I killed her
I wasn't furious or frustrated or anything
Only that her imagination was tight around my skin

IULIA GHERGHEI