249 Results with the "Poetry" genre


    • Chapter Fourteen: Qu Yuan Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Cyrus waking up in a Brooklyn hotel room with his roommate Zee’s thumb in his mouth, a habit stemming from his childhood thumbsucking. Despite his father’s attempts to curb it with hot pepper juice, Cyrus’s subconscious now seeks out Zee’s thumb as a substitute. Their relationship is intimate but largely non-sexual, characterized by cuddling and occasional physical affection, which they struggle to define to others. They share a deep, platonic bond, often sleeping together…
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      Chapter Four

      Chapter Four Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a woman's first flight experience from Tehran to Bandar Abbas on July 3, 1988, against the backdrop of Iran's economic hardship. The narrative paints a vivid picture of Tehran's struggles—families selling heirloom carpets for survival, men raising chickens in bathrooms, and desperate attempts to secure food. A haunting scene depicts young women risking prostitution on Revolution Street, with one girl violently apprehended by secret police. The protagonist's unease during her flight…
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      Chapter Five

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter explores the lives of Cyrus and Ali Shams, Iranian immigrants in Indiana, focusing on their struggles with insomnia and trauma. Cyrus, now an adolescent, grapples with chronic sleeplessness, obsessively replaying daily interactions and imagining social slights. His anxiety extends to fears of deportation and his family’s precarious visa status, exacerbated by his father Ali’s vague warnings about the dangers of revealing their Iranian heritage. Ali works long hours at a chicken farm,…
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      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Fifteen Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Cyrus experiencing a vivid dream set in an elevated parking lot surrounded by blooming trees and yellow plains. Unlike his usual dreams, the setting emerges before the characters, creating a surreal atmosphere. Two figures eventually appear: basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dressed in a retro uniform, and Cyrus’s imaginary younger brother, Beethoven, named after the dog from the 1992 film. The dream’s whimsical tone is established as the two men engage in playful banter,…
    • Chapter Eleven: Hypatia of Alexandria Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows Arash Shirazi, a young Iranian man conscripted into military service during the Iran-Iraq War in 1984. With no means to avoid enlistment, Arash reflects on the absurdity of war and the shift from a revolution led by idealists to one controlled by armed zealots. He resigns himself to his fate, imagining his future as just another martyr's photo on the mosque wall. His observations highlight the senselessness of war, where men like him—poor, uneducated, and without special skills—are…
    • Chapter Eighteen: Roya Shams/Mom Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the narrator's vivid description of Leila, a woman whose striking presence transcends conventional beauty. Her sunglasses, confident demeanor, and animated conversation about eclectic topics make her magnetic, almost otherworldly. The taxi driver’s distracted driving underscores her allure, while her unfiltered cigarettes and casual defiance of norms—like removing her scarf—hint at her rebellious nature. The narrator is captivated, observing Leila as if she were a force of…
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      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Eight Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Zee Novak reflecting on her early relationship with Cyrus during their time at Keady University in 2014. Set against the backdrop of an unpredictable Indiana spring, Zee recalls working at Green Nile and selling weed while Cyrus worked at Jade Café. Their lives revolved around drinking and casual dating, a period before Cyrus’s sobriety and Zee’s eventual decision to stop drinking in solidarity. Zee hints at the growing emotional labor she invested in Cyrus, a realization that…
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      Bribed

      Bribed Cover
      by LovelyMay Bribed begins not with shame, but with an honest, loving surrender. The narrator admits they are no match for the soft, persuasive power of a grandchild’s hug or pleading glance. Rules are remembered, but only briefly, before they are softened by laughter or quiet tears. The battle is gentle and always lost with a smile. A slice of cake is given too close to dinner. A second helping of watermelon is allowed, even though it’s already led to stomach pain once before. It isn’t forgetfulness. It’s a…
      Fiction • Poetry
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      BOOK IV

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      by LovelyMay Book IV opens with a sense of closure, as the Argonauts complete their perilous voyage and finally return to their homeland. This final leg of their journey is free from the supernatural threats and divine obstacles that once filled their path. Calm waters replace the chaos, suggesting that their trials have earned them the right to peace. The ship Argo, once tossed by curses and guided by prophecy, now glides quietly back to familiar shores. Each hero aboard carries memories of personal growth, forged…
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      BOOK II

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      by LovelyMay Book II begins as the Argonauts finally reach the shores of Colchis, a land both revered and feared for the trials that await. Their ship is anchored with steady hands, and the crew, driven by purpose, steps onto the fabled soil. Here, Jason’s destiny unfolds, for this is where he must tame fire-breathing bulls and plow the cursed field of Ares. Beyond the trials stands a grove sacred to the god of war, sheltering the Golden Fleece—an object of beauty and power, guarded by an ever-watchful dragon. The…
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