YOU

Lovely

I don't know why others have criticized your writing, to be honest, because I can totally enter what you are saying and feel it all. As a woman, the way we think and the way words work in us and for us is different somehow than it is for men--at least, that is MY opinion. Your writing is lovely and very evocative--I put myself right into those scenes and they fit perfectly for how a woman feels. Blessings to you and keep up the good work!

If you disagree...

...I have watched the evolution and growth of Sheema as a writer in English. She has found a unique voice, one that spins words in ways no native speaker ever would. This is good, very good. Language cannot grow unless people are pushing its boundaries, making it move into areas of new expression.

If you don't like what Sheema writes, your problem is with taste and not with quality of writing. As one who has put over 400 hundred poets online and who has written himself for over 40 years I do believe I know a little about writing in the English language.

So take your fairy tale English lit class rules and your inflexible leftist attitudes elsewhere. If you cannot admit this women writes extremely well in English then you need to do some introspection and self-examination. The problem is with you and not her.

The problem with Sheema

The problem with this writing is that in few lines it humanely describes the inhumanity which is the norm in many countries including Iran. Perhaps the beef with her is not the unfairly maligned linguistic failings rather her seemingly innate ability to cut to the chase and bare that which is indefensible, the utter dehumanization and subjugation of women based on ancient rituals. She also displays the same problem throughout her Echoes in Exile.

چیزی که این

چیزی که این نوشته‌ها را از انواع مشابه ادبی عاشقانه/اروتیک/زنانه...) متمایز می‌کند غلیان احساسی و اصالت ‌آن‌هاست. کلباسی در این نوشته‌ها "تلاش" نمی‌کند. قلم بی‌اختیار می‌رود. او نمی‌نویسد: می‌نویسانندش! این جوشش، بی‌انکه خود او بخواهد‌، ژرفا ‌می‌افریند. ادبیت که هیچ‌، حتا شعریت هم در این نوشته‌ها مهم نیست. دغدغه در اینجا اساسن دغدغه‌ای ادبی یا شعری نیست. اهمیت این کارها هم -دست کم از دید من- در همین است

مسئله جدی‌تر و فوری‌تر (اگزیستانسیال‌تر‌‌) از آن است که سنجه‌های ادبی به کار بیایند. ناسازه ولی این‌جاست که این خود اهمیت ‌"ادبی" بسیار دارد

رود را باید روان گذاشت. پرداختن به مسایل اجتماعی- اگر خود‌آگاهانه باشد- جلو جریان آب را می گیرد. از این جهت با جهانشاه موافقم

به هر حال خوشحالم که نوشته‌های کلباسی باز در اینجا چاپ می‌شوند

Sheema jon: Breathtakingly

Sheema jon: Breathtakingly poignant. Not being a man, I admire what you're trying to do to in holding a mirror to pathological obsession of men with erotica and animalistic sex into some kind of humanity of a woman...xo

To all Occidentalist and defunct leftist:

If you don't agree with Sheem's politics, have the guts to say so...if you don't, then keep quite and let others enjoy her poetry.

SOme people are just jealous because they have never been able to publish a book...Perhaps if you moved to Soviet Union or N. Korea, you'll find a publisher to publish your canned and copied anti-imperialist rhetorics!

Q! I will buy you a ticket myself for free, if you decided to move from sunny S. California!!!

Sheemas books on Amazon.com

//www.amazon.com/Echoes-Exile-Sheema-Kalbasi/...

//www.amazon.com/Seven-Valleys-Love-//ww...

ry-Magazine-Directory-Magazines-Presses/dp/1593761902/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207422256&sr=1-3

Sensual evolution

Thanks Q. But we'll have to agree to disagree. I have witnessed Sheema's evolution for eight years or so. She arrived in the U.S. from Denmark and struggled to express herself in English. I used to do a lot of edits on her English poetry -- and she hated it (any artist would). But her erotica (for lack of better word) which she started publishing last year, belong to a different class altogether. I'm no literary expert by any standard, but as a reader her words move me. She expresses love and desire in the most natural and  dreamy fashion. You may see grammatical mistakes here or there, but if there are any, I take them as artistic license which take nothing away from their amazing sensuality/sexuality. For those who are curious, I recommend these samples: "Now that spring is here", "The spring snow", "At night", "Twice every morning"...

Jahanshah, I disagree

The poetry and the prose are not "good" by any known standard. Kalbasi seems to think tactless insertion of words and verbs are poetic and therefore "beautiful." There may be some merit to her kitchen sink approach -- had she been deliberative or systematic about her choices of clichés and grammatical mistakes Microsoft couldn't catch. However, I don't think she's aware of them. Too many people must have complimented her based on what sounds like creative writing without respect to what actually is creative writing. I bet she has never had a real editor, only well financed Orientalists too eager to repackage cultural supremacy for an awe-struck late-sipping audience.

Creative writing is neither to be abused as a crude delivery vehicle for slapdash politics, nor is it a refuge for functional illiteracy.

Thank you.

I enjoyed reading your lovely piece. It is beautifully written.  

Feshangi

And I...

... definitely agree with Jahanshah!

Beautiful

I'm so glad you're writing again. I'm a big fan of your erotica, or sensual writings or... not sure what to call them. But they are mighty beautiful. Can't get enough. My favorite line is probably this: "words that stem from the heart and soul, making rich feathery sensation on the back of my neck; words that tantalize like the tip of your tongue finding its path to my lips." One thing to consider: When you switch into social commentary, it ruins the mood! Nevertheless, I eagerly look forward to more.