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Writer's pictureAlexandra Antipa

[Book Review] Milkvetch & Violets: Poems, [Author] Mohammad Reza Shafi’i Kadkani




A beautiful collection of poetry, signed by a gifted contemporary Iranian poet, translated into English by Mojdeh Bahar. I was delightful to discover this collection, which reminded me of ancient Persian poetry in some way. A modern touch was detectable in the later-written poems, with an impeccable expression of emotion.


My thoughts:


Reading poetry does not compare to anything else in the world. You immerse yourself in a universe of rhythm and verse, without knowing what lies ahead. Then, poem by poem, you are discovering the person who found the courage to put those words on paper. The experience in itself is as intimate as it can be, despite the fact that you might never meet the poet responsible for the artistic expression.


I am always happy when I see the works of contemporary poets from all over the world translated into English. This particular collection offered a delightful reading experience; it felt like stepping into a dream of velvety words, the effortless blend of modern and classical styles adding to the overall pleasure.


What were the things I liked the most?


· Simple language that somehow managed to deliver powerful messages


· Nature as main theme – the author takes us fondly through all the seasons, speaking about seasons changing with nostalgia in some cases; in others, the anticipation is palpable, you can almost feel the hope of a new beginning transmitted through verse


· The several poems that were not related to nature had a unique beauty - I could tell that the author spent years refining his style, without abandoning the inherent love for the simple things in life


· Each poem was dated, which practically offers the reader the opportunity to travel back in time and accompany the poet in his writing journey


· Rich metaphors chosen to express his thoughts and feelings, thus coming closer to his readers.


Verdict:


I loved this collection of poetry! Each poem is a delicate expression of intimate thoughts and feelings, and the reader feels privileged to be let in the writer’s soul. The beauty of his poetry lies in being able to express a wide range of emotions through nature-related metaphors. If you are looking to escape, I highly recommend you diving into this collection head first!


Grab your copy of the book from here!



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