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I studied Medieval and Renaissance Spanish in college, leading me to explore Arabic and Persian literature (in English translation) -- first, ancient, then, modern. So, I'm quick to pick up any translation of modern "Middle Eastern" poets to see where the art is. Khaki's small book does not disappoint. Here is an exceptionally fine -- refined -- poet, fully aware of the conventions of great Iranian literature, bringing the full force of its elegance and power to bear on late 20th century Iranian politics. Most of us know about the Shah, the Savak, Khomeini, the Ayatollahs, the US alliance with Sadam Hussein during the Iran/Iraq War -- but we rarely stop to think of the net effect of all of this turmoil (a nice word for systematic arrests, murders, brutal executions, disappearances all in the name of supplying or denying certain commodities to the West) on soul of a nation whose poetic traditions are at least 2,000 years older than ours. My only complaint here is that this book -- with only 34 pages of poetry -- is much too short. More rewarding, and certainly more worthy of the author, would have been a book that included translations of selections from his Farsi poetry. That's a plea, not a pan.

The poems are poignant, rich and overflowing with a wide spectrum of emotions. They will touch the heart of anyone who has loved, laughed, hoped or deeply suffered. Ala's poems are succinct and piercing, using just the right number of words and phrases to encapsulate raw emotion. As read the poetry, I felt myself empathizing with the inexorable pain he must have endured at the hands of his captors. Yet, despite this suffering he never lost hope in the redeemable emotions of humanity, in love, tenderness and kindness. I recommend this book to everyone as a catalyst for human compassion and as a stimulus for greater perception of emotional depth.