Category Archives: International issues

One of My Favorite Poems by Saadi of Shiraz

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I’ve been thinking about this poem a lot lately, because what it says could easily have been labeled heresy by the authorities of Saadi’s time, which was 13th century Iran, and an accusation of heresy could, conceivably, have gotten him … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Religion, Writing | Leave a comment

Would You Give Your Life for Your Art?

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

People often tell me that my poems are brave, that reciting them publicly takes courage. I understand what they mean by that, and I thank them for the compliment they intend, but it also always makes me cringe. I think … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Writing | 5 Comments

New Zealand House of Representatives Passes Marriage Equality And Sings

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Ampersand

They’re singing a Maori love song called “Pokarekare ana,” which, Wikipedia tells me, is sometimes called New Zealand’s unofficial national anthem. During the debate, “Te Ururoa Flavell gave a wonderful speech with a Maori perspective, detailing the pre-colonial Maori history … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, International issues, Same-Sex Marriage | 3 Comments

What I’ve Been Reading About Iran

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

Iran’s Web Censors vs. Google Reader: In the wake of Google’s announcement that it’s going to kill Reader, a fascinating article about the role Reader played in helping Iranians circumvent government censors. Pahlavi Iran and Zionism: An Intellectual Elite’s Short-Lived … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran | Leave a comment

Norooz Pirooz! Eid Moborak! Happy Iranian New Year 2013

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

It is a tradition in Iran to use the works of the 14th century poet Hafez to tell fortunes. People open a copy of his divan, his collected works, and take the first line of poetry their eye falls on … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran | Leave a comment

Is Hamas Considering Recognition Of Israel? – from Al-Monitor

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

From a very interesting article by Shlomi Eldar on Al-Monitor, which is a very useful source of information if you follow what’s going on in the Middle East: “Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah is stuck, because right now the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Palestine & Israel | 4 Comments

Farid al-Din Attar: A Reading Journal 3

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

Do you believe in love at first sight? All-consuming, Romeo-and-Juliet, I-cannot-live-withou-you, I-know-just-by-looking-at-you-that-you-are-all-I-will-ever-need-and-so-I-will-give-up-everything-I-have-ever-held-dear-just-to-be-with-you, I-would-even-die-for-you love? I don’t. I never have. Even when I was young enough that the romantic ideal of such a love should have resonated in me, I actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Religion | 3 Comments

Attar in Progress: An Officer Falls in Love with a Prince

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I’ve been making steady progress working on Ilahi Nama, and I thought it might be interesting to post some of what I’ve done so far. The latest poem of which I have finished the first draft, for example–just about all … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Writing | 5 Comments

“My Face Became Eyes; My Eyes, Hands” – Translation Strategy and Metaphor

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

I am on sabbatical this semester to work on a translation of Ilahi Nama, The Book of God, by Farid al-Din Attar. I’ve been working on this book in bits and pieces for the past couple of years, producing first … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Writing | 4 Comments