My dear friend Rashidah Ismaili and her team orgaznied a lovely virtual poetry festival on May 23.
I read one poem in Uzbek and one longer poem in english. Many poets around the world attended the festival. I got inspired by some poets and might resume my residency program to invite poets, writers and artists from around the world to come to Uzbekistan and share their best practices with our people, aslo learn from us.
Every time I go to New York, I try to visit Rashidah Ismaili in Harlem. She is sweet and always welcomes me in her house full of books and paintings. I would like to see her in Uzbekistan. I met her in 2009 in Colombia during Medellin International Poetry Festival. We have been good friends since then.
