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    257 Results with the "Poetry" genre


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      Chapter Six

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces ten-year-old Roya Shirazi, who struggles with persistent bedwetting despite her efforts to avoid liquids and empty her bladder before sleep. Her humiliation is compounded by her older brother Arash's mockery and her parents' silent disapproval, with her mother's pitying glances and her father's avoidance deepening her shame. Roya's anxiety manifests in her belief that her classmates can detect her odor, making her hyperaware of their reactions. A classroom incident where she…
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      Chapter Seven

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      by testsuphomeAdmin
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      Chapter Eight

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      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…
    • Chapter Nine: Bobby Sands Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Cyrus Shams, a young Iranian-American man, confessing his preoccupation with death to artist Orkideh during an encounter at the Brooklyn Museum. He awkwardly reveals his fascination with historical figures like Bobby Sands who died for their beliefs, contrasting their meaningful deaths with his own existential uncertainty. Orkideh, a terminally ill cancer patient conducting a living exhibition called "DEATH-SPEAK," listens intently while subtly challenging Cyrus's romanticized…
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      Chapter Ten

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      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 Twenty-seven [When asked about…], Martyr! Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a reflection on Michelangelo's approach to sculpture—removing excess stone to reveal the masterpiece within. This metaphor extends to life, where eliminating negative elements (toxic relationships, bad habits) is often mistaken for creating goodness. The author critiques the Abrahamic moral framework, arguing that avoiding wrongdoing doesn't equate to active virtue. A rich man, for instance, may pride himself on not harming others while neglecting positive action, exposing the…
    • Chapter Twenty-seven [Sitting on a…], Martyr! Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Cyrus sits on a bench in Prospect Park, reeling from the news of Orkideh’s death after receiving a voicemail from her ex-wife and gallerist, Sang. Despite having known Orkideh for only a short time, Cyrus is deeply affected, contrasting his grief with the seemingly effortless composure of those around him. The chapter reflects on the fleeting nature of modern grief, reduced to a brief interruption in the constant stream of daily life. As Cyrus hesitantly returns Sang’s call, the weight of the moment is…
    • Chapter Twenty-eight Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter explores the concept of grace through the perspective of Roya Shams, a woman who narrowly escaped death when her plane was mistakenly shot down by the USS *Vincennes*. Roya reflects on grace as an unearned gift, contrasting it with justice, which is transactional. She recounts how she traded passports with her lover, Leila, to help her flee Iran, only for Leila to perish in the crash instead. Roya grapples with the guilt of surviving while Leila died, framing her second chance at life as an…
    • 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…
    • Chapter Twenty-nine Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Orkideh, Martyr!" reflects on the narrator's life through a lens of gratitude and acceptance. Despite acknowledging that happiness was not a constant state, the speaker emphasizes experiencing profound joy, particularly during moments shared with Leila. This perspective challenges conventional notions of tragedy, suggesting that even a life cut short can be rich in meaning if it contained genuine happiness. The tone is introspective yet defiant, rejecting pity in favor of celebrating the…
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