Synopses & Reviews
Recent political developments, including the shadow of a new war, have obscured the fact that Iran has a long and splendid artistic tradition ranging from the visual arts to literature. Western readers may have some awareness of the Iranian novel thanks to a few breakout successes like Reading Lolita in Tehran and My Uncle Napoleon, but the country's strong poetic tradition remains little known. This anthology remedies that situation with a rich selection of recent poetry by Iranians living all around the world, including Amir-Hossein Afrasiabi: “Although the path / tracks my footsteps, / I dont travel it / for the path travels me.” Varying dramatically in style, tone, and theme, these expertly translated works include erotic divertissements by Ziba Karbassi, rigorously formal poetry by Yadollah Royaii, experimental poems by Naanaam, powerful polemics by Maryam Huleh, and the personal-epic work of Shahrouz Rashid. Eclectic and accessible, these vibrant poems deepen the often limited awareness of Iranian identity today by not only introducing readers to contemporary Iranian poetry, but also expanding the canon of significant writing in the Persian language. Belonging offers a glimpse at a complex culture through some of its finest literary talents.
About the Author
Niloufar Talebi founded The Translation Project (www.thetranslationproject.org), whose mission is to bring contemporary Iranian literature to worldwide audiences in multiple languages and media. She lives in San Francisco. Zack Rogow has translated Colette's Green Wheat, Marcel Pagnol's play Marius, and other works. Dan OConnell is an award-winning poet and the author of Different Coasts, a full-length collection of poetry on the theme of alienation.
Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
Notes on Selection xxiii
Notes on Translation xxv
Amir-Hossein Afrasiabi, b. 1934 (The Netherlands)
Red Rose 1
Red Rose 2
The Grayest Port
Ghosts
Two Poems
Mina Assadi, b. 1943 (Sweden)
Yearning for Saari 1
Sketch 4
Sketch 13
Sketch 25
Waking Dreams 3
Waking Dreams 6
Waking Dreams 7
Because of Boredom 21
Nader Naderpour, 1929—2000 (U.S.)
Conversation in the Dark
Point and Line
Yadollah Royai, b. 1932 (France)
Name Stone
Bosom Stones (3)
Lipbrimmings (4)
Esmail Khoi, b. 1938 (U.K.)
To the Aged Mulberry Branch
In a Thousand Years
Song
Losing
Image of Kindness
Partow Nooriala, b. 1946 (U.S.)
Many Happy Returns
Four Springs
Majid Naficy, b. 1952 (U.S.)
Narcissus Flower
Night
To a Snail
Abbas Saffari, b. 1951 (U.S.)
Tomorrow
A Bird Is a Bird
Saturday Night Dinner
Revenge
Tanka for Loneliness
Reza Farmand, b. 1956 (Denmark)
My Mother Did Not Become Beautiful (excerpt)
Saghi Ghahraman, b. 1957 (Canada)
The Dead Dear One
I Hang Myself
Jamshid Moshkani, b. 1958 (Sweden)
Book of Fears 1
Book of Fears 27
Book of Fears 30
Book of Fears 41
Book of Fears 45
Behzad Keshmiripour, b. 1958 (Germany)
If You Danced the Wind
Barefoot on Nightvelvet
Shahrouz Rashid, b. 1960 (Germany/U.S.)
Seasonless Years (excerpt)
Downfall on the Horizon (excerpt)
Icarus (excerpt)
Letter to Father
Naanaam, b. 1966 (Canada)
Untitled 19
One Must Not Sleep with Juliet and Not Be Romeo 37
AntiPoem 2
Granaz Moussavi, b. 1973 (Australia)
Moving Sale
Post-Cinderella
Half-Bottle
Song of a Forbidden Woman
Ziba Karbassi, b. 1974 (U.K.)
Gravequake
Love Is Lemony
Revolution
Song of Ruin
Maryam Huleh, b. 1978 (Sweden)
The Sticky Dream of a Banished Butterfly (excerpt)
Mana Aghaee, b. 1973 (Sweden)
My Death
Come What May
Woman Seeking Man
Majnun
Tree
Partial List of Iranian Poets around the World
Acknowledgments