Siamanto (1878-1915); Armenian poet assassinated during the first days of the Armenian Genocide, author of the poem The Dance, an amazing example of Modernism that was sweeping the poetic world at the time. Similar in spirit and emotion to Federico Garcia Lorca’s A Poet In New York.
memories of my ghost sista 
My friends from Western Asia and the Middle East are so into the poets from their areas. Imagine being excited by poets? Not enough electronic toys and useless information overload, I guess. I’m writing some text, and my wife is doing the pictures, for a woman from Pakistan’s book of poetry. She comes from some city known as the “City of Poets” because Pakistan’s two most famous poets came from there. My Iranian friends talk about Rumi the way Europeans talk about futbol stars, or Americans talk about manufactured celebrities. Vaclav Havel…these people just don’t get it… Every country needs their Reagans, and Schwartzeneggers, and Jesse Venturas…people who really know how to put on a show.
Later…
Yes, I always thought it would be nice to live in part of the world that knows how to treat its poets right. Poland is another country that goes all out in seeing its artists as national celebrities. Every year in Saudi Arabia they have a poetry contest with a $1 million dollar prize. Last year a woman won it which totally blew away many of the fundamentalists in the jury, apparently. When you are done with your friend’s book and it is published please let me know, I would love to get a copy!
I have to get some copies somehow…and the only postal worker in town sleeps most of the day…because the mail doesn’t work, so nobody sends anything, and because nobody sends anything, there’s no need to shape up service…and So Forth.
Later…
I do hope you are able to some copies. It would be a shame to put so much work into a project and never get to hold it in your hands. Are you translating the poems for her? or are you editing the book?
Eiditing and writing some stuff to explain her stiuation, and who knows…what she asks for.
Later…
that’s wonderful of you, my friend. cheers!