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    257 Results with the "Poetry" genre


    • Chapter

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Ten Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter depicts the narrator's life working at an industrial chicken breeder farm in Fort Wayne, where the chickens are genetically modified for rapid growth and efficiency, stripped of immune systems to maximize productivity. The narrator describes the sterile, laboratory-like environment, contrasting it with traditional farming imagery. Their daily routine involves meticulous biosecurity measures, including showering and wearing scrubs to prevent contamination. The chickens, referred to as…
    • 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

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Twelve Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces Cyrus Shams, an Iranian-American navigating life in the Midwest during the post-9/11 era, where he grapples with xenophobia and cultural alienation. Cyrus perceives natural phenomena like storms and sunlight as personal affronts, reflecting his broader sense of isolation. His upbringing is marked by microaggressions, such as a math teacher’s racist joke and a social studies teacher’s condescending remarks about U.S. intervention in the Middle East. These experiences highlight…
    • Chapter Thirteen Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces Roya Shams, a woman living in Tehran in 1987, who reflects on her ambivalence toward life and the constraints of her marriage. She describes her limited personal freedoms, cherishing small moments of solitude like sipping tea or doodling, which stand in stark contrast to her domestic responsibilities. Roya’s husband, Ali, is friends with Gilgamesh, a police officer, and the two men take annual trips to Rasht, leaving Roya briefly free from the exhaustion of constant scrutiny.…
    • Story

      Martyr!

      Martyr! Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin “Martyr!” is a thought-provoking poetry collection by Kaveh Akbar that explores themes of faith, spirituality, identity, and self-sacrifice. Through powerful, evocative language, Akbar delves into the internal conflict between religious devotion and the human experience, especially focusing on the concept of martyrdom—the tension between surrendering oneself for a cause and the self-affirmation of personal identity. Akbar uses his poems to interrogate the nature of…
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      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Sixteen Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces Arash Shirazi, a soldier in the Iranian army during the 1985 Iran-Iraq War, who adopts a unique role inspired by his comrade Arman. Dressed in a black robe with a flashlight illuminating his face, Arash becomes a symbolic "angel of night," riding his horse Badbadak among the dying soldiers to offer them solace and reinforce their resolve. Arman explains that every platoon has a soldier like Arash—one who embodies this celestial figure to provide comfort amidst the horrors of war.…
    • Chapter Thirty-one Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the narrator reflecting on their first experience with death, which they missed entirely, leaving them with unresolved grief. This time, they aim to confront their own mortality head-on through their final art installation, *Death-Speak*, which serves as a literal and metaphorical presence in the face of death. The narrator contrasts their experience with Leila, who may have found clarity in death, while they remain burdened by the weight of living. The installation becomes a way to…
    • Chapter Seventeen: Bhagat Singh Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows Cyrus Shams on his third day in Brooklyn as he prepares to meet Orkideh at a museum. Eager to connect with her, he brings two coffees—one as a thoughtful gesture—reflecting on the profound yet often overlooked human ability to consider others' lives. This moment of simple kindness strikes him as miraculous, though he also questions whether his self-satisfaction reveals deeper narcissism. His internal monologue oscillates between wonder at human connection and self-criticism over…
    • Chapter

      Coda

      Coda Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Sang Linh" from *Coda* captures a pivotal moment in 1997 New York, where the narrator reflects on the success of Orkideh's art exhibition *Why We Put Mirrors in Birdcages*. The narrator, a gallery owner, works alongside their oldest son, Duy, and the artist Roya to dismantle the show. Roya's meticulous nature shines as she oversees the handling of her paintings, particularly *Odi et Amo*, a piece evoking mixed emotions in the narrator due to its unsettling yet nostalgic imagery. The scene…
    • 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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