*The Tale of the Tiger and the Swan*

Once upon a time, on an island of snow and ice, there lived a tiger. He was fiery-orange and striped, with eyes the color of green frost and a soul as cold as winter. His heart had never known warmth: he hunted in silence, slept alone, and even the moon, when it peeked into his den, could not linger—he was too cold even for her.

Companions came and went like northern winds—some tried to warm him, some dreamed of taming him, but he remained unchanged. A predator. Alone. Free. He didn’t believe in love, considering it a myth for the weak.

But everything changed one spring.

When the sun touched the snowy plains for the first time in ages, the ice on one of the lakes began to crack. The tiger wandered there—not for food, just because. And then he saw her.

On the water, among shards of ice, floated a swan. White like him, but alive, warm, full of light. Her movements were slow, graceful, like music he’d never heard before. He didn’t understand what he was feeling, but for the first time, the heart that had been frozen for so many winters began to crack.

He couldn’t look away. Every day, he returned to the lake. He brought her food. He warmed her with his body. He carried her on his back through snowy trails until she gently rested her head on his neck. He spoke no words—tigers do not speak—but she heard his heart, now beating for her.

But they were different. She—a creature of water and sky. He—a beast of earth and frost. She longed for the south, the warmth, the other swans. He was bound by snow, silence, and solitude. One day, she looked up at the sky—and he understood: it was time.

He walked her to the lake’s edge. She spread her wings and rose, circling above him for a long time, as if unsure whether to leave. And then she vanished into the clouds.

He returned to his den. But now it felt empty. He no longer hunted so fiercely, no longer growled, no longer hid from the moon. Sometimes he would go to the lake, hoping to see a white shape on the water. Sometimes he heard cries in the sky—and stared upward until his eyes ached.

Fuchsik decided to seriously study psychology and here are the conclusions he made from this story of his friends:

This tale is about transformation. About how even the most closed, frozen heart can change under the influence of love. But love is not always about “happily ever after.” Sometimes it’s a meeting that divides life into “before” and “after.” Sometimes love comes to show a person they are capable of feeling—and leaves, taking with it both light and pain.

The tiger is a metaphor for a man who has closed himself off from the world—traumatized, emotionally distant. His predator’s image is a defense mechanism, born of loneliness or perhaps early loss. He fears attachment because he doesn’t believe it can last. The swan symbolizes beauty, purity, an idealized feminine principle. She appears as an archetype of the Anima (in Jungian psychology)—awakening, inspiring, but not meant to stay. Their inability to be together reflects the conflict between reason and emotion, between desire and reality, between the need for connection and the fear of vulnerability.

Запись Oksana Zhukova(Sky) Fairy Tale from Fuksik впервые появилась ArtMedia.

One day, a clever yet mischievous fox went to a kind-hearted donkey and said:
– My friend! Don’t you think it’s time for someone else to be the ruler of the forest?

The donkey replied with surprise:
– Why? The lion is good. Everyone loves him.

The fox smiled and said:
– True, but if you and I join forces, maybe we could do even better! You’re strong, and I’m smart!

The donkey hesitated, then said:
– Maybe… so, what’s your plan?

The fox, who had a playful idea in mind, took the donkey with him and they went to see the lion.

The fox said:
– Oh wise king! Your greatness is known across the whole forest. We are here to help you in any way you wish.

The donkey added:
– Whatever you need, just tell us!

The lion smiled and said:
– Years ago, I had a dream about a fairy prince who looked like a cute little piglet. I always wanted to see him again.

The fox thought quickly and said:
– Wonderful! I know a cute little pig. If you allow, we’ll dress him up beautifully and bring him to you.

The lion laughed and said:
– If you can make the forest look like my dream—full of colors and joy—I’d be so happy.

So the fox, the donkey, and the other animals worked together. They decorated the forest with colorful leaves, shiny flowers, and flying kites, making it look just like a magical land.

The little piglet, wearing a pink ribbon and a tiny crown, came to meet the lion. The lion smiled—not because of power, but because he felt joy in his heart, just like in his dream.

At the end, the lion said:
– True leadership comes from wisdom and friendship, not force. You, fox, are smart. And you, donkey, have a big heart. Let’s work together for the happiness of the forest.

And from that day on, all the animals learned that kindness, teamwork, and friendship are the strongest powers of all.

The End

—

Il Leone Saggio della Foresta

Into Italian language

Author Gabriel Honour

C’era una volta, in una foresta verde e colorata dove gli alberi toccavano il cielo e gli uccellini cantavano dolci melodie, che tutti gli animali vivevano insieme con gioia e gentilezza. Il re di quella foresta era un vecchio leone saggio, rispettato da tutti, perché risolveva ogni problema con giustizia, intelligenza e cuore buono.

Un giorno, una volpe furba ma un po’ birichina andò da un asino dal cuore semplice e disse:
– Amico mio! Non pensi che sia arrivato il momento che qualcun altro diventi il capo della foresta?

L’asino rispose, sorpreso:
– Perché? Il leone è bravo. Tutti gli vogliono bene.

La volpe sorrise e disse:
– È vero, ma se uniamo le forze – tu forte, io intelligente – forse possiamo fare ancora meglio!

L’asino esitò, poi disse:
– Forse… qual è il tuo piano?

La volpe, che voleva solo fare uno scherzo gentile, portò l’asino dal leone.

Disse:
– Oh saggio re! La tua fama riempie tutta la foresta. Siamo venuti per aiutarti in tutto ciò che desideri.

L’asino aggiunse:
– Qualunque cosa tu chieda, lo faremo!

Il leone sorrise e disse:
– Anni fa ho sognato un principe delle fate, simile a un dolce porcellino. Da allora, vorrei tanto rivederlo.

La volpe pensò velocemente e disse:
– Meraviglioso! Conosco un porcellino adorabile. Se ci permetti, lo prepariamo per te e lo portiamo qui.

Il leone rise e disse:
– Se riuscite a rendere la foresta bella e colorata come nel mio sogno, sarò felicissimo.

Così la volpe, l’asino e gli altri animali si misero al lavoro. Decorarono la foresta con foglie colorate, fiori brillanti e aquiloni, creando un paesaggio da favola.

Il porcellino, con un fiocco rosa e una piccola corona, arrivò dal leone. Il leone sorrise, non per potere, ma perché il suo cuore si riempì di gioia, come nel sogno.

Alla fine, il leone disse:
– La vera leadership nasce dalla saggezza e dall’amicizia, non dalla forza. Tu, volpe, sei intelligente. E tu, asino, hai un grande cuore. Lavoriamo insieme per la felicità della foresta.

E da quel giorno, tutti gli animali impararono che la gentilezza, la collaborazione e l’amicizia sono i poteri più grandi di tutti.

Fine

Запись Gabriel Honour:The Wise Lion of the Forest (Fairy tale to the painting by Rasa Us «Lion») впервые появилась ArtMedia.

And so, here lies a story that may echo in the furthest corner of your soul. And if it does — that will be its greatest accomplishment.

—

“Archibald, are you ready for the most important mission of your feline life?” asked Archibald the Almighty Cat God of Earth, Kotofan Kotievich the Omnipotent.
“Of course, I’m ready,” Archibald replied with confidence. Not a single of his whisker twitched in doubt.
“Then you shall go to the planet Earth tomorrow and restore one girl’s belief in miracles and selfless love. She won’t know you were sent by me. But you will know your purpose. Her life will change with your arrival. She may not realize it right away, but in time, your hearts will find each other. Be patient, Archie, give her time. Humans don’t always distinguish signs from the heavens from mere coincidences. But you will be her heaven sent sign. A real one.”
“My mission is clear. I will be the girl’s most loyal friend. I will be her support and strength, no matter what. I’ll always be with her, even from a distance — for I will live in her heart,” purred Archibald with voice full of joy and calmness.
“Then you are ready. I have no doubt in you,” said Kotofan Kotievich with a smile. Bring the light to humanity. Show them that true love exists — though not always in human form. Sometimes, it comes as a furry, purring or barking shape of love, always ready to guard and protect their person.”

Morning came, and in a split second, Archibald was bathed in shimmering light. It sparkled with all the colors of the rainbow, glowing like the very essence of the Galaxy. Everything beneath his elegant paws trembled, the sky burst into radiance — and just like that, he appeared on Earth.

On April 17, 2019, in London, Archibald arrived on Earth in the body of a tiny kitten. His eyes weren’t fully open yet, and his tiny mouth let out nothing more than a faint squeak — but even so, he already carried a great mission, one he was fully conscious of.

Nearly three months passed. During that time, Archibald communicated several times with Kotofan and waited for the girl, the one they had spoken of before his arrival. Archie saw many faces, heard endless praises and felt many touches — some gentle, some clumsy. But none of it felt right. He was waiting for her — the one whose heart would beat in harmony with his.

And finally, she arrived.

“I choose him. All the kittens are lovely, and I wish I could take them all… But there’s something special in his green, deep eyes. His grace, his confidence… I can’t take my eyes off him,” said that very girl.

She thought she was making a choice. But Archibald knew: he had chosen her by accepting his divine mission.

He looked into her eyes and softly purred. Leaping onto her lap, he curled up gently. Feeling peace and stillness away from the day’s bustle, Archie closed his eyes and listened to the girl speak excitedly about him — her voice trembling with anticipation, her heart nearly leaping from her chest. In that moment, he knew their souls were bound. Gazing into her eyes, he realized they had a long and meaningful journey ahead — and only together they’d be able to walk it.

Even their soul numbers matched, adding up to eight — the symbol of infinity. Which meant this wasn’t a coincidence. There are no coincidences. The universe always knows whom and when to send our way.

From that day — July 27, 2019 — the girl’s life changed. Archibald became her best friend, her mentor, her protector. Together they faced every trial that life — and Kotofan himself — sent them, to test the strength of their bond. He taught her that love isn’t just words, but rather actions. That being truly close and sharing a real bond doesn’t just mean being nearby, but being a true support even in the darkest of times.

Archibald showed her that true, selfless love does exist.
Sometimes, it comes to us in a shape of a lovely companion on four legs, with a tail and soft fur, and a quiet purr instead of grand speeches.
Everything in life is temporary, even life itself, but true happiness is granted from above — when a four-legged, furry angel enters your world.

They guard and protect us — and that is the hardest job of all. And that is Love.

Love that doesn’t keep up with a schedule, it knows no weekends. Love works around the clock, every day, without breaks or holidays, without rest or complaints. It is the hardest job in the world — to love unconditionally, no matter what.

I dedicate this story to my most beloved cat in the world — Archibald. Without him, my life would be incomplete. And so would I.

Cherish and love your pets deeply, people! And remember: we don’t choose them. They choose us.
Their mission is priceless.

Миссия кота Арчибальда на планете Земля

Когда-то, очень давно, в далекой Галактике, о которой земное человечество ничего не знало, началась эта прекрасная история. Историю эту в мельчайших деталях знает только наш главный герой — кот Арчибальд, а я лишь повествую о ней, чтобы вдохновить каждого из вас.

Все истории должны начинаться таинственно, немного загадочно, не так ли? Чтобы читатель затаил дыхание и следовал за повествованием до самого конца, возможно, узнавая в нём что-то близкое, родное, отражение своей собственной жизни.

И вот, перед вами история, способная откликнуться в самом далёком уголке сердца. Если так произойдёт — это и будет её главным достижением.

— Арчибальд, готов ли ты к самой важной миссии в своей кошачьей жизни? — спросил Арчибальда бог всех котов на Земле Котофан Котиевич Всемогущий.

— Конечно, готов, — с уверенностью в голосе ответил Арчибальд. И ни один усик не дрогнул у него от тени сомнения.

— Тогда ты отправишься на планету Земля уже завтра и вернешь веру в чудеса и бескорыстную любовь одной девушке. Она не будет знать, что ты послан мной. Но ты будешь знать своё предназначение. С твоим появлением её жизнь изменится. Возможно, она не сразу это поймет, но со временем ваши сердца найдут друг друга. Потерпи, Арчи, дай ей время. Люди не всегда умеют различать знаки небес от простых совпадений. Но ты будешь для неё именно знаком. Настоящим.

— Моя миссия ясна. Я стану для этой девушки самым надежным другом. Я буду ее поддержкой и опорой, несмотря ни на что. Я всегда буду рядом, даже на расстоянии, ведь я буду в ее сердце, — промурлыкал Арчибальд с радостью и спокойствием в голосе.

— Тогда ты готов. Я в тебе не сомневаюсь, — с улыбкой сказал Котофан Котиевич Всемогущий. — Неси свет людям. Покажи им, что настоящая любовь существует — пусть не всегда в человеческом облике. Иногда она приходит в виде шерстяного, мурлыкающего или гавкающего комочка любви, всегда готового оберегать и защищать своего человека.

Настало утро, и в долю секунды Арчибальда озарил мерцающий свет. Он был насыщен всеми цветами радуги, переливался, как само дыхание Галактики. Всё под его элегантными лапками задрожало, небо рассыпалось светом, и вот — он оказался на Земле.

17 апреля 2019 года в Лондоне, в теле маленького котенка, явился Арчибальд. Его глазки еще не полностью открылись, из неокрепшего ротика раздавался лишь писк, но, несмотря на это, у него уже была великая миссия, к выполнению которой он был осознанно готов.

Прошло почти три месяца. За это время Арчибальд не раз выходил на связь с Котофаном и находился в ожидании той самой девушки, о которой они говорили перед его прибытием на Землю. Арчи повидал немало лиц, услышал множество умилений и ощутил немало прикосновений — и ласковых, и неуместных. Но все было не то. Он ждал единственную. Ту, чьё сердце будет биться в унисон с его собственным.

И вот, наконец, она пришла.

— Я выбираю его. Все котята прекрасны, и я бы забрала их всех, если бы могла… Но в его зелёных, глубоких глазах — что-то особенное. Его походка, грация, уверенность… Я не могу отвести от него взгляд, — сказала та самая девушка.

Она думала, что это она делает выбор. Но Арчибальд знал: это он выбрал её, приняв свою небесную миссию.

Он посмотрел в глаза девушки и тихо замурлыкал. Запрыгнув на ее колени, он устроил себе гнездышко и деликатно свернулся калачиком. Ощущая покой и отсутствие дневной суеты, Арчи прикрыл глаза и слушал, как восторженно девушка говорит о нем, как ее голос слегка дрожит в предвкушении, а сердце вот-вот выскочит из груди. В этот момент он понял, что их души связаны. Взглянув в ее глаза, он осознал, что им предстоит долгий и ответственный путь вместе и что только вместе они смогут его пройти.

Даже их числа души совпадали, складываясь в восьмёрку — символ бесконечности. А значит, это не было простым совпадением. Совпадений не бывает. Вселенная всегда знает, кого и когда нам послать.

С этого дня, 27 июля 2019 года, жизнь девушки изменилась. Арчибальд стал её лучшим другом, наставником, защитником. Вместе они проходили все испытания, которые посылала им не только жизнь, но и сам Котофан, чтобы убедиться в силе их связи. Он научил её, что любовь — это не слова, а действия. Что быть рядом — это не просто находиться поблизости, а быть поддержкой даже в самые тёмные дни.

Арчибальд показал ей, что настоящая, бескорыстная любовь существует.
Иногда она приходит на четырёх лапах, с хвостом и мягкой шерстью, с тихим мурчанием вместо громких речей.
Все в жизни временно, как и сама жизнь, но счастье свыше дается нам, когда в нашу жизнь входят четвероногие пушистые ангелы.

Они оберегают и защищают нас — и это самая сложная работа. Это Любовь.

Любовь, что не имеет расписания, не знает выходных. Она работает круглосуточно, каждый день, без перерывов и отпусков, без усталости и жалоб. Это самая трудная работа в мире — любить всегда, несмотря ни на что.

Эту историю я посвящаю своему самому любимому коту на свете — Арчибальду. Без него моя жизнь была бы неполной. И я — тоже.

Цените и безгранично любите своих питомцев, люди! И помните: это не мы выбираем их. Это они выбирают нас. Их миссия — бесценна.

Запись Vita Tocilovska «Archibald: One Cat’s Mission on Planet Earth» впервые появилась ArtMedia.

I live on the Planet of Love
Author — Oksana Zhukova(Sky)
Translation into Belarusian — Maria Muchinskaya

На планеце кахання жыву,
Пад сузор`ямi чараў i мар.
За акном – кветнiк мрой-медавух,
За пагоркамi – руж акiян.

Я купаюся ў моры надзей,
Дзе начуе лiловы заход.
Ў камянях рабых хваля гудзе,
Iх размова злiваецца ў хор.

Пакідае ў далонях пяску
Хваля мяккасць, усплёск дабрынi.
Хмаркi перыстыя и руку
З небам-купалам дорыш мне ты.

Запись Maria Muchinskaya: Translation of the poem «I live on the Planet of Love» by Oksana Zhukova into Belarusian впервые появилась ArtMedia.

Taro Hokkyo 1998 Rekitei Shinei Award in Japan.
2021 Arab Golden Planet Award.
2022Awarded the title of Doctor of Letters from the Arabic-speaking world.
2023 My poems are published in Orfew.al magazine in Albania.
Also translated into Italian2024 My poem is published in the Daily Global Nation in Bangladesh.
My poems published in Samantaral Bhabna, India.Interview with an Algerian newspaper is published.
My poem is published in Greek Police Magazine.
Received a certificate of honor from English poets.
Published in a Korean magazine.
Published in Koltaka jishu International Poetry Magazine, India.
My poem is published in a Greek e-magazine.
My poem is published in the Barcelona Literary Magazine.
My poem is published in Poetry Planetariat, a Nepalese poetry magazine.
My poetry collection is published in Bengali-speaking countries.
Three of my poems were published in India’s Half-yearly magazine.
Three of my poems were published in the Raft of Dreams Literary Magazine.
My poem is published in Hyperpoem in Nepal.
I am submitting a poem to Sophy Chen’s Translation World Poetry Yearbook in China.

KlNG OF WORDS
The high-backed platinum throne had been broken, unbeknownst to the public.
The king, superficially gentle on the surface, had somehow turned into a dictator.
The gray grass grew tall and maddeningly wordy. After the new king,
with his golden maned wild horses, was shot dead, all words were reduced to ashes.
The king of words wore ragged black robes and a lisping tongue.
The promise of the word was too deceptive for the deed.
Losing his congregation, the king shouted something with a loud voice, but it was all muffled in the storm.
People rumored the garden of the king of words to be a glamorous isolated island.
Faith in the lost words has now become a broken throne, a decadence to cover up the misery of the world.
The throne was mischievously manipulated by the blind and deceitful heirs of the throne,
and the words of the land died in a state of decay.

Запись Taro Hokkyo: KlNG OF WORDS впервые появилась ArtMedia.

«I live on the Planet of love»
Author — Oksana Zhukova (England)
Translation — Nina Stepanova (Latvia)

Es dzīvoju uz Mīlas planētas

Es dzīvoju uz Mīlas planētas
Zem burvīgā sapņu zvaigznāja.
Aiz loga ir sapņu priekšdārzi.
Aiz pakalniem — rožu ezeri.
Es peldos cerību jūrā,
Kur pasakaini saulrieti,
Kur skaisti un smilškrāsas akmeņus
Runā zilacainiem viļņiem.
Tur, no silta un maiga viļņā,
Tikai maigums paliek uz smiltīm.
Un tu, spalvaini balti mākoņi,
Ar debesīm kopā man iedot.

28.12.2024
Tulkojums: Ņina Stepanova

Author — Oksana Zhukova (Sky)
Translation into Latvian by Nina Stepanova

Запись Ņina Stepanova: translation of the poem by Oksana Zhukova(Sky) into Latvian впервые появилась ArtMedia.

I wish it was
I wish justice would flow like running water
The ship of every tyranny was caught by burning fire
I wish there was a solid wall around the world
A huge wall would block the path of the devil
I wish this soil did not drink a lot of human blood
The child used to smile at his father
I wish there was eternal love for the world
The green of the alley of the heart was filled with flowers and basil
I wish the fire of all hatred would be extinguished forever
Love and affection were boundless happiness
May every angel be free and happy
Let the cursed devil take a corner of the prison
@Ubaidullo Sanginov

Запись Ubaidullo Sanginov (Tajikistan) впервые появилась ArtMedia.

Fei Yifei [China]
Observing the sunset
The mountains are perfect for watching the sun set in the west
It is neither hurried nor slow
It wears a yellow hat and lowers its eyes, and gradually
Ripen and fall from the stems.
The stream flows out of the valley and makes a racket
But it can’t stop a pine cone that is in a hurry to go down the mountain.
A titmouse is also unwilling to be lonely
To accompanying the slow dusk with sparse chirping
The sun is setting farther and farther away
I can reach the sea if I get up
As long as you get up, you can reach the sea
And to the unknown shore
Of course, everything cannot be determined in advance.
—This I know. To be alive all the time
I’ve been living to give something away.
Until one day, someone else stands in front of me.
And send me away
As to where I ended up
I can’t answer that now.
(Translated by Dr.Arthur Zhang)

作者简介：
费一飞，中国当代优秀诗人，浙江省杭州市人。浙江省作家协会会员，作品刊发于各种报刊、平台、选
本。出版诗集《我的河》《一边走，一边爱》及散文集、纪实文学等多部。曾获第七届中国当代诗歌奖等。
部分诗作被翻译成多种外国文字。

About the author:
Fei Yifei, an outstanding contemporary Chinese poet, a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. He is a member of Zhejiang Writers’ Association, and his works have been published in various newspapers, platforms and anthologies. He has published several collections of poems, including My River, Walking While Loving, and several collections of essays and documentary literature. He was awarded the Seventh Chinese Contemporary Poetry Prize, etc. Some of his poems have been translated into various foreign languages.

E-mail: iptrc@126.com

Запись Fei Yifei (China) впервые появилась ArtMedia.

Запись Розалия Александрова (България): МИРЪТ Е Съвършеното единство на Дух и Тяло впервые появилась ArtMedia.