In Mahmud Kianush’s “Poems of the Living Present,” published in 2014, readers delve into a poignant exploration of contemporary existence.
Among its verses lies the expansive poem “Suddenly Man and his Earth“, which is a profound and evocative exploration of humanity’s existential journey, articulated through vivid and haunting imagery. The poem delves into the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, portraying a world that oscillates between apocalyptic devastation and fleeting moments of paradisiacal beauty.
Kianush uses powerful allegory to examine the darker aspects of human nature, such as greed, oppression, and the corrupting influence of power, juxtaposed with the potential for renewal and spiritual awakening. The relentless descent into moral decay, followed by a cataclysmic purge, serves as a stark commentary on the consequences of unchecked human impulses.
Kianush’s mastery of language and symbolism makes this work a striking meditation on the human condition, resonating deeply with its themes of despair, redemption, and the elusive quest for harmony.
Selected Poems from this Collection
Click on the title to view the entire Poem
The Sweet Smell of Youth
Sometimes one feels
that old age
Gives out a poignant odour,
Killing the sweet smell of youth.
Windows: Then and Now
When I was young,
Windows were simple things
In different sizes and forms,
with two simple,
but
Highly essential functions,
One was bringing the daylight
into my room,
Illumination
A very young,
but not so beautiful poem,
Her green eyes shining
with tears of sorrow,
Was looking,
through her closed window
At the sky,
of a late summer afternoon,
Now adorned with a perfect rainbow.
Suddenly Man and his Earth
At the uncertain border of night and day,
When comes the call of light,
Now so near,
now so far away;
When colour sways between hope and fear,
Letting it seem
As if wolves are giving birth to lambs
And ewes to wolf cubs,
Again I was dreaming,
On the edge of wakefulness,
A dream of apocalyptic horrors:
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