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    257 Results with the "Poetry" genre


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      Chapter Five

      Chapter Five Cover
      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 Sixteen

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      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 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…
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      Chapter Six

      Chapter Six Cover
      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…
    • 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…
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