you may think it’s nothing
but my veins and arteries are laid out bare.
Bloodflow of which my heart chose to confine.
buried there
like the ****** you were last accused of.
I proposed death as the blade grazed me
cause after then, I lose none.
choosing to live with it is like a bruised lung
with a virus destined to crawl out of every cell
like a tune sung. reaching convict ears.

by Mahzuna Rustamova

I traveled on the shoulders of clouds,
Faced the sky, my eyes set ablaze.
In that serenity, so deep and profound,
I turned into a breeze, lost in the haze.

I traveled on the shoulders of clouds,
While birds watched me with silent envy.
A rare calm settled into my soul,
And smiles built mansions across my face gently.

I traveled on the shoulders of clouds,
And turned to rain to touch your face.
Your arched brows, rose-cheeks, deer-eyes —
To your dagger-lashes, I gave my grace.

I traveled on the shoulders of clouds,
Became a wind and caressed your hair.
I brushed your cheek, inhaled your breath,
And asked God for an eternal pair.

I traveled on the shoulders of clouds,
Poured my moonlight along your path.
Oh, my beloved, my proud serene rose,
Let’s hold onto joy, beyond all wrath.


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🇺🇿 Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat

© Mahzuna Rustamova

Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat,
Samoga yuz tutdim, koʻzlarim yonib.
His qilib oʻzgacha, sokin halovat,
Saboga aylandim, oʻzimdan tonib.

Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat,
Qushlar hasad bilan boqib qolishdi.
Koʻnglimga toʻlarkan ajib farogʻat,
Tabbasum yuzimga uylar solishdi.

Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat,
Yomgʻirga aylanib yuzingga boqdim.
Ogʻma qosh, gʻuncha yuz, ohu koʻzlaring,
Xanjar kipriklarga oʻzimni osdim.

Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat,
Shamolga aylanib soching siladim.
Yuzingga urildim, nafasing tuydim,
Ollohdan bir boqiy umr tiladim.

Bulutlar kiftida etdim sayohat
Oy boʻlib nurim sochdim yoʻlingga.
Ey, sanamim, sarvari erkam,
Baxtni tutdim, ketdik qoʻlingga.