While at the Art Institute in Chicago, Jessa & I saw Nilima Sheikh's exhibit, "Each Night Put Kashmir in Your Dreams." There was a lot of text interwoven in the art, and Jessa and I had some divergent opinions about the appropriateness of such intermingling. I came down in favor of the text. The exhibit itself was inspired by poetry, particularly the poem, "I see Kashmir from Ne Delhi at Midnight" by Ali. I was intrigued by the exhibition, so when I saw a collection of Ali's poems in the museum store I snatched it up.

These poems are a roller coaster (that mostly goes down). They will make you miss your home even if you've fled it. They will make you despair the idea of your home being destroyed by war. They will make you yearn temporarily for something so "romantic" as being a war exile and then immediately feel like an utter ass for ever entertaining such a thought.

What I knew about Kashmir before this was almost nothing, and now I want to know more, especially some of the religion and mythology alluded to. I'd no idea Kashmir could have ever been thought Persian (I thought Persia = Old Iran). Why did I never take world history? I should read more Lal Ded.

I love best the poem "Farewell":
"They make a desolation and call it peace."
"We can't ask them: Are you done with the world?"
"My memory keeps getting in the way of your history."

But they are all wonderful. They all tighten something in my chest and twist my mouth. Beautiful. Heartbreaking.
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