New Release by Iranian Poet Sheema Kalbasi


For more on Echoes in Exile please go to its website (here)... You can order the book Amazon.com, Barns&Nobles, and partial donations will go to the listed charities on the website (here)

Kalbasi's poetry is generous and abundantly human, passionate and compassionate.

-- Jimmy Santiago Baca, award winning poet and author

Sheema Kalbasi’s poems speak of love, loss, and life in exile. They are the poems of a human rights activist passionate with the hope of peace. Kalbasi’s poetry exposes the deep heart of a woman who is compassionate with suffering and full of the joy of life, of the innocence of a child, the knowledge of a woman, the aspirations of a peacemaker. These are stirring poems with a worldly view, both accessible and imaginative. They make an excellent cross-cultural exchange that demonstrates our universal
humanity.

-- Daniela Gioseffi, American book award winning author

پژواک در تبعید نام کتاب اشعار انگلیسی شیما کلباسی است. کلباسی در این کتاب با سادگی، جذابیت و توانایی همیشگی حاضر در نوشتارش به ابعاد انسان می پردازد.



اشعار کلباسی بسیار سخاوتنمند، سرشار از احساس و بشر دوستانه هستند.

جیمی سانتیاگو باکا

شعرهای شیما کلباسی شاهدی بر موقعیت تراژیک انسان معاصرند، موقعیتی که در آن تبعید به جایگاهی برجسته برای نشان دادن بی‌عدالتی نهفته در جابجائی انسان‌ها بدل می‌شود. شعرهای ژرف، تاثیرگذار و بازتافتی کلباسی به ما این توانائی را می‌دهند تا اندیشهٔ بازگشت به خانه را از چنگ دنیائی که بازگشت را از ما دریغ می‌کند، بیرون آورد.

پیمان وهاب‌زاده، دپارتمان جامعه‌شناسی، دانشگاه ویکتوریا

  

 

In his latest article Eli Lake writes: The State Department has been reviewing ways to "get Iran to be helpful on Iraq" as part of a government-wide review of Iraq policy.

I say: Yes! Please do so... and I'll see you in two years!

Since when Iranian regime is helpful?!

  

 

Nema Milaninia: "The problem is that Ebadi says “we can interpret Islam to mean a number of things.” Thats fine and good, and a valid start, but what it doesn’t do is explain how we can interpret Islam to mean specific things, such as the protection and promotion of women’s rights. She doesn’t do that, because ultimately she doesn’t know how. In nothing she has ever written or said has she drawn that connection, especially while using Islamic jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh)."

  

 

It was April 2003 when I first blogged about Azam Ali... I like her music and her voice... In Pakistan and India there is Qawwali singing and her music sounds like a combination of new age and Qawwali to my ears...

  

 

من و تو و دختری با خرس کوچکش


خیلی ساده می نویسم

و تو سادگی را دوست داری

من و پنجره باز وبوی مرغ پخته

و درختانی که برگی برشان نمانده


تو ساده می پنداری

که من همینم

که به سادگی می گویی

دوستت دارم

اما نمی دانی که همیشه چشمانم

پیش از گفتنت با

ادکلن روی صورتت

ریش تراشت

و حوله تنت

عشقبازی کرده است


تو می گویی و من

می خندم...

که زندگی بین قبضهای ماهانه

که می پردازیم

و خانه ای که فروش نرفته

خیلی هم سخت نیست


تو شبها خسته ای و نگران

و من هر پنج ماه را با ناخنهای جویده منتظر که

کسی خانه سفید ما را می خرد؟



من و تو و بالشهای بنفش و سرخمان

من و تو و زمان که همیشه از ابراز عشق تو باز تعجب می کند

و می پرسد از من

هنوز هم؟


و من و تو و بالشهای بنفش و سرخ و دختری که هر نصفه شب

با خرس کوچکش پاورچین کنار تختمان می آید

و می پرسد: می تونم امشب پیش شما بخوابم
انگار که بار اول است...


و من و تو و بالشهای بنفش و سرخ که دختر را می بوسیم و در آغوش می کشیم

و به سختی کنار هم می خوابیم

و صبح با کمر درد و شانه درد می رویم

که روز دوباره ای را از سر بگیریم...



اگر که کم می گویم بدان که...

همیشه دوستت دارم

وقتی که نبودم... حتی وقتی که دیگر نباشم

شیما کلباسی

  

 

حسن زارع زاده اردشير: روند سرکوب تدريجي و گام به گام جنبش دانشجويي به جايي رسيده که دانشجويان بسيجي تحت پوشش سپاه پاسداران وارد عرصه برخورد با دانشجويان شده اند. در تازه ترين اقدام بسيج دانشجويي، توحيد غفارزاده دانشجوي دانشگاه آزاد واحد سبزوار عصر دوشنبه در برابر چشمان نامزدش به قتل رسيد تا دانشگاه پادگاني به به دانشجويان منتقد و مخالف دولت پادگاني نمايش داده شود.

An Iranian university student, Tohid Ghaffarzadeh was killed by a Basiji (paramilitary force) in Sabzevar, a city in the northeastern province of Khorasan.

  

 

I feel much better after talking to my dad. Apparently the lines work on and off in the Ukrainian Phone and Computer center (how do they manage their Atomic Bombs?) where he is visiting my younger brother. What a relief to hear his voice saying Happy Birthday Sheema. It immediately fills my heart with those feelings that only a parent/parents can give their child.

Who says I am a big girl now... I am only big in pounds!

بعد از شنیدن صدای پدرم که گفت: تولدت مبارک شیما، احساس آرامش دارم. اینجور که بابا می گفت... خطوط تلفن تو اکراین جایی که برای ملاقات برادر کوچیکم رفته خیلی هم خوب کار نمی کنه (چطوری بمب اتم دارن؟) این صدا بهم آرامش می ده... آرامشی که فقط یک فرزند از شنیدن صدای پدر و مادرش می تونه احساس کنه...

کی گفته حالا دیگه شیما دختر بزرگی هست! من فقط تو وزن بزرگم!

  

 

یتیم



نه ساله بودم

مادرم یتیم شد

می گفت یتیم شده است



وقتی که پشت فرمان گریه می کرد




پانزده ساله بودم

من و کوله کوچکم از زمین خاکی بین ایران و پاکستان گذشتیم...

و مادرم هنوز گریه می کرد

و آهنگی که دیگر یادم نیست

را در ترافیک تهران

برای مهاجرت من

زمزمه...



سی و چهارساله که شدم

گریه کردم

زیرا که باورم شد هم مهاجرم و هم یتیم!


شیما کلباسی

  

 

Happy Birthday Sheema.

  

 

سنگسار در بطن دین اسلام است. واقعیت ساده ایست. سنگسار جزو مراسم حج است. حالا شاید برای یک فرد بیمار شیطان در نقش یک انسان ظاهر می شود!

If you are a Muslim you know stoning is part of the religion. In some Islamic countries it may not be legal but this doesn't mean the religion of Islam doesn't permit it. The truth of the matter is simple. Stoning is part of the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Maybe in someones twisted mind lovers are the devil!

  

 

Save Zahra kamalfar from violation in Iran and in Russia

Lisa Goldman: "My friend Allison Kaplan Sommer, who is a contributor to Pajamas Media, asked me to circulate this article and video of Zahra Kamalfar. Ms. Kamalfar, a political dissident who escaped Iran with her children during a furlough from prison, has been stranded in Moscow Airport for 73 days under horrendous conditions. The Russian government is now threatening to send her back to Iran tomorrow (Monday), where she will likely face severe punishment." Watch and read here.

Sign the Petition here.

  

 

اخبار روز: امروز صبح منصور اسانلو در خیابان توسط مامورین لباس شخصی بازداشت و به نقطه نامعلومی برده شد.

Mansour Osanlou is arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.

  

 

The Wall Street Journal: "A leading Iranian student activist is calling for the Bush administration to directly fund opposition groups seeking to topple the theocratic regime in Tehran. Manucher Mohammadi escaped from Iran last month after his brother and fellow democratic activist, Akbar Mohammadi, died in Tehran’s Evin prison. Manucher Mohammadi says his brother was severely tortured during seven years in prison and ultimately died from his injuries."

  

 

Laura Rozen


Aunt scam journalist, Laura Rozen who thinks of herself as Iran analyst and her imaginary friends feed her information that weights zero to nothing may have a new target for character assassination: Manouchehr Mohammadi. Now with Mohammadi in the United States, Rozen is sitting uptight to get back to her typing, drinking latte and adding to her bank account! Talking of bank account I wonder if she is on Iranian Regime's paycheck. No human in her right mind would write the way she does based on her hate for the Bush administration!! Ms. Rozen, when you cash that check of yours I suggest you go to Toys “R” US and get yourself one of these globs. It is an interactive Explorer Globe and hopefully will teach you facts about Iran!

  

 

My poem Hezbollah first published in 2004 won the Harvest International poetry award today.

شعرم "حزب الله" که اولین بار در سال دوهزار و چهار به چاپ رسیده بود... امروز برنده جایزه بین المللی هاروست شد.

  

 

The infamous Laura Rozen is at it again. She wakes up with her latte and laptop and goes at her keyboard! It is good to be paid the money she is and write bunch of whatevers, and have your readers clap for you! She is one of those liberals that make you want to change your party for the next one! How come when it comes to Iran these aunt and uncle scam journalists get their latte first thing in the morning!! Read her latest titled Iran Hawks Reorganize.

Make sure to read it on an empty stomach or have a bucket handy!

  

 

Iranian Truth: Iranian American Student Abused By UCLA UCPD With Tazer Gun. Video shot from a student's camera phone captured the student yelling, "Here's your Patriot Act, ..." while he struggled with the officers.
خشونت پلیس علیه دانشجوی ایرانی آمریکایی.

  

 

Judith Apter Klinghoffer: "Nor have Iranians forgotten the Palestinian (including Hamas) support of Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war and they resent the money being spent on it. After all, the Iranian economy is terrible and the unemployment level of educated youth is over 50%. What do you think about the Iranian army? I asked. It is no different from that of Saddam and its missiles are so inaccurate that Iranians joke that an attempt to blow up Tel Aviv will end up flattening Mecca."

  

 

عاشقانه های بابا و دختر

پ: خیلی دوست دارم

دختر کوچولو: منم

پ: زندگی منی

دختر کوچولو: شما هم

  

 

A bit tired. Got another rejection for the anthology of Iranian Women Poets. I never get discouraged from resubmitting. It is the waiting and than the 100th rejection of the year that makes me tired. In any case I don't have much to complain. My own collection Echoes in Exile will be out later this month and the anthology of Other Voices International Poetry that I have co-edited with my friend and co-director Roger Humes is due release for the Holidays. In the print version of OV anthology I have included some 35 poets of Iranian heritage. I don't know if so many Iranian poets have ever been published alongside internationally renowned voices before but this is a great start. Only in the last day or so before we sent in the edited manuscript, I included three more Iranian poets and that just felt wonderful.

Think of it as an achievement for those of us who truly care for the Iranian poetry in the international literary circle.

یک کم خسته ام. برای صدمین بار برای مجموعه اشعار زنان ایران جواب رد گرفتم. اما خوب خیلی هم جای ناشکری نیست. مجموعه اشعارانگلیسی خودم تا آخر این ماه به بازار میاد و مجموعه (آنتالوژی) اشعار شاعران آوای دیگر هم که با دوست و همکار ادبیم راجر هیومز روش کار کردیم برای تعطیلات زمستانی به بازار عرضه می شه. از اینکه بیش از سی و پنج شاعر ایرانی رو در این مجموعه که اکثرا شاعران معروف از کشورهای مختلف هستند معرفی کردم احساس رضایت دارم. تا جایی که من خبر دارم هیچوقت این تعداد شاعر ایرانی همراه و در کنار شاعران بین المللی که نزدیک به سیصد تا هستند به بازار انگلیسی زبانها راه پیدا نکرده بودند. از ترجمه های چاپ نشده محمود درویش هم در این آنتالوژی هستند. کار پر زحمتی هست ولی جای خوشبختی داره که در نهایت درآمد به خیریه ها یی که اسامیشون عنوان می شه می ره و هم من و راجر و هم ناشر و شاعران می تونیم فکر کنیم که خیرمون به یک عده ای رسیده!

  

 

Uskyldig Kvinde
af Sheema Kalbasi

intet menneske

uskyldig kvinde



jeg er...

jeg er naturen



jeg kan sagtens føle mig tæt på

sagtens føle mig tæt på



mellem kvinderne

forsvinder jeg under et ophold

slip mig, hold på mig, slip mig fri



luk mig ud af denne natur

dette hår, dette år, sort



føl mig tæt på,

vil du være som mig



uskyldig kvinde

jeg er… nogen der ligner dig



både i den måde du tænker på,

og ligner dig af udseende

måske....



ingen vej tilbage

jeg er som dig

en dansker!

  

 

روزنامه حکومتی جمهوری اسلامی: "تحريم را ما شروع كنيم"، به دادن باج های کلان به کشورهای اروپايی برای جلب حمایت و همکاری آنها با رژیم تهران اعتراف کرد و نوشت "آقاي شيراک نمي تواند هم با دشمنان ما برقصد و هم به ما چشمک بزند و از سفره هاي تمام ايرانيان سهمي را غارت كند."
Confessions of huge bribes to Europeans: "Mr. Chirac cannot dance with our enemies and at the same time wink in our direction and all the while pillage from the share of all Iranians."

  

 

Kianoosh Sanjari is being held incommunicado at an unknown location and Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.
سنجری به شدت شکنجه شده و همچنان تحت فشار فراوان قرار دارد. این رفتار نشان دهنده وضعیت نگران کننده کیانوش می باشد. وزارت اطلاعات قصد دارد کیانوش سنجری را زیر شکنجه از بین ببرد

  

 

Michael Ledeen: "And while I thought he [Rumsfeld] should be replaced, I found the manner and the moment of his purge utterly disgusting. What was the rush?"

I agree with Ledeen on this but the defeat in election was too big and Bush had to bring something to the table. It is unfortunate that one of the best doctrines proposed for the Middle East was abounded by President Bush himself -- the moment he turned the wheel and took the wrong exit! And... it is too late. Separated states are all that can save Iraq... but that doesn't mean ethnic cleansing will not continue for the next several years. A balkanized future is Iraq's path to peace now! Will that be the future for Iran?

Somehow the Iranians never find that NorthStar!

  

 

Iran

I don't know how it is with others but this James Baker brings me chills! Now with Robert Gates in the picture and the Iranian Brady Bunch (Vali Nasr, Hooshang Amirahmadi, Trita Parsi, and more) on the U.S. end and (the soon to see his bloody head) Rafsanjani with Ahmadinejad --mullah verses revolutionary guard-- on the other end... ah! Well! Better they do some more flip—flop and get it over and done! I guess these U.S. study groups are just collectively in need of a better group or study subjects. So far whatever has been the outcome is been devastating! You see what is a study group for the latte drinkers and spa goers over here turns out to be just a bit more than a sip of bloody marry down there!

  

 

Some one has to answer for the human rights abuse cases in the Abu Ghraib prison. Donald Rumsfeld's resignation is better than nothing.

  

 

Democrats take US House! Great News!

  

 

Washington into making the Iranian Chalabi?


I recently heard that Dr. Vali Nasr has become the unofficial adviser to President Bush on issues related to Iran. First of all who is this person to advise anyone on Iran when he isn't truthful about his family finances. I can understand if someone doesn't want to discuss certain issues but once the person agrees to speak about something he shouldn't try to deceive his audience. The guy says his family had to start on nothing in the U.S.. His father was the head of an office or something during Pahlavi's regime. It's not like they had to leave Iran on hand and foot, and start over on zero dime! Unlike Laura Rozen and her ridiculous article on Amir Abbas Fakhravar, the Iranian Chalabi is not the young Fakhravar, born to a struggling middleclass family whose crime was writing a children book and is nowhere close to Chalabi. If anyone has any similarities to the banker millionaire is this Vali Nasr! By the way do you know what was Dr. Nasr's honorarium and expenses for 1 ½-2 hour program consisting of a Q&A and book signing?

  

 

Once Upon a Time

I tell a tale or read to the little girl... like my dad used to do for my siblings and me! So last night when the little girl fell asleep while listening to a story and I got back to working on some literary stuff... I turned on the Television... to have some noise in the background... and surprise surprise... they had a program on Islam. The images of three year olds in Pakistan shouting death, destruction, and hateful slogans were disturbing. The program maybe another push for the upcoming election in the U.S. but these kids are for real. In Pakistan the social life is based on a cast system-- embedded in their history before they got their independence from India. Unfortunately Islam has not been helpful and the country is one of those places that one never feels safe. The throat of two Pakistanis' were slashed next to where I was, another time I was attacked by some Sunni Pakistanis on Ashura because of my national and religious identity. These are just a few examples. The more one goes up north towards Peshawar the central government has less power. No wonder the Islamic schools have so much influence in the area. These are the places providing something for the kids and their families. Since to most people in the Middle East, and Muslim countries... U.S. and the West represent every evil in the world, perhaps the Western parent may want to rephrase that once upon a time when reading to his/her child. What is the right phrase? Stay away from that Muslim family... maybe? Apparently... there are no moderate Muslims and most of us are sympathizers or we would stand up to these terrorists... whom we say ... do not represent the real Islam. Unless we voice our concerns we are one of them, the terrorist, a threat, and why shouldn't we be identified as one while living in Western countries that are the home away from home!

What do we expect! Nigella to prepare us a warm cup of chocolatemilk before bedtime?

  

 

My comments apparently upset some people in the blogosphere (read Iranian blogger monopolists). I am an independent blogger. No body pays my bills and and I am not indebted to anyone! Maybe it is not true about those (read Khatamists!) who feel such a strong bond and allegiance to the chocolate made Mullah and campaigned for Rafsanjani.

  

 

I look into the mirror. Wrinkles around my eyes?! Thirty four is closing fast! When did I happen to me!

  

 

Democrats: Arrogant and Ignorant?... Or is it just John Kerry!

The Conservatives like to use Kerry -the Democrat- card and for some reason Democrats play right into their hands. Kerry represents everything a regular American cannot relate to... and well... all for the right reasons. Kerry doesn't stimulate the mirror cells in any ones brain but his own like: speak French at home! rich! windsurfer! snob! ehh! An elite too?! I don't know why Democrats wanted him to go against President Bush in the last election. US Senator John Edwards (North Carolina) was a much better choice. Anyway... all these voting talks... and today of all days... I realized... I have never voted! I had not come of age to vote in Iran... (even if I lived and had come of age in Iran who would I vote for? Rafsanjani --like the Iranian blogger monopolists suggested! Or for Khatami --the Mullah with an aba of chocolate-- his fans love fruitcake! What can I say!) I didn't have any right in Pakistan... and in Denmark... where I lived for many years... I could vote when I received my Danish citizenship... but... by the time I did become a proud Danish citizen... I had... moved to USA... and now... it will be three years before I can apply for a Pentagon job (ha! ha! you think I won't! think again!)

  

 

Pouya’s latest post is about Iraq. Of course the Iraq situation is nothing new. Around 1988 when I worked at the Center for Non Afghan Refuges (CRM) and came to know hundreds of Iraqi refugees and especially those of Kurdish heritage… some of them had lost their arms and legs fighting the Suni Arabs. Most would not even call themselves Muslims. They had the tendency to consider themselves Communists and separate themselves from the Sunni Arabs. Anyway… the ethnic cleansing has just started.

  

 

I am moving to Washington D.C.

  

 

اخبار روز: مبارزه جنبش زنان و نیروهای ترقی خواه ایرانی برای لغو مجازات سنگسار ادامه دارد. در تازه ترین اقدام، نامه ی سرگشاده ای جهت توقف حکم ۹ زن و دو مرد که گفته می شود در خطر مجازات سنگسار قرار دارند، خطاب به رئیس قضائیه و رئیس مجلس شورای اسلامی منتشر شده است. این نامه ی سرگشاده برای امضای عمومی مخالفان حکم سنگسار در ایران است و در آن گفته شده است امضا کنندگان به شدت نگران اجرای حکم سنگسار به عنوان یک مجازات در نظام حقوقی ایران هستند ...

امضا کنید



It is incredibly important to bring attention to the horrendous and inhuman act of Sangsar (stoning) in Iran. This is a direct violation of human rights... now... think of it as your good deed of the day and sign this petition.