We have left all of our books behind and my husband's piano. I have always been so proud of my beautiful library but it is just by itself now, alone in the dark. War was too heavy for my suitcase we couldn't fit any books in there, we didn't have time for that either. I want all the books, it is hard to pick just a few!
Saba and Mr Saba, please take care of yourselves. The library will be waiting for you on your return. As someone who has an enormous collection of books, requiring a few lifetimes to read, I know that each one is precious, and was probably chosen with love, and has its own backstory.
I travelled through Iran around 1971/2 as a driver with a group of eight in a Landrover, camping every night. The time of the Shah and Savak. We were at Persepolis, for Cyrus the Great’s 2500th (?) celebration. I remember Teheran of course, Kermanshah, Ahwaz, Isfahan and Shiraz, and so
much more. I was based in Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia.
May you stay safe, healthy and happy. You will return when the horrors are at an end, and throw open the doors and windows to the dazzling sunshine and clean air of a new and - we pray - time of truth and freedom
for Iran. A beautiful and fascinating country that I will never forget.
We were talking about the politicization of fear today in our UU Church. Not god fearing…mad man fearing. I said that fear is seeping down to kids. They are anxious in school and there are more bullies. It reminded me of the early 1960s when I was in elementary school near Washington DC during the Cuban missile crisis. I had to get a permission slip signed by my mother. It said “In case of a nuclear attack, do you want your child to stay at school, walk home, or wait for someone to pick her up. I was so afraid of being left at school, I cried and said I wanted to walk home. My fourth grade class was in a new bomb shelter built under the school. Thi fear I felt then was intense and I think the same is happening now. We have to find a way away from hatred and violence.
My parents were child survivors of the worst horrors of WW2. We grew up with a sense of always be ready to flee.
Your question about would we still protest if we were no longer allowed make me think of my Russian partisan Grandfather, and all the many Partisans for whom protesting became a death sentence, and so they went deep underground, into the forests and the sewers and they fought their bloody battles against the oppressors.
That’s what I would do, quietly organise and fight so I might survive to fight some more!
Also makes me think of Surrealist French artist Claude Cahoun and her partner who produced devilishly smart propaganda in Jersey during WW2 in German to make it look like the dissent was amongst the Germans from
Inside their own ranks! Now that’s quality protest!
Great piece, thank you. I'm listening to an awful lot of Broadway show tunes, lately. It's what makes sense to me right now, and brings me joy. And because I know those songsby heart I'll be able to sing to my dogs and my cat, when the lights go out. And the book? I'd take Harriet the Spy with me. Because she's my muse. xo
One of mine would be my dog-eared copy of the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I Ching. Can I take three please? or four books? An interesting observation of the "preppers" wanting to take cross-bows, but no books.
Thought provoking and balm for the soul. Pondering which books. Maybe Wintering by Katherine May and After Sappho by Selby Schwartz. Agree with adding on fairy tales or something about goddesses and gods through civilisations. I want to take my loom with me but failing that a crochet hook.
Not sure I would want the potassium iodate unless I had enough for my precious grandchildren. It’s them I worry for. I would take my stash of knitting wool and needles, sewing things and lots of sketchbooks and crayons. Moby Dick - because I still haven’t finished it, and a few slim volumes of poetry.
Sewing threads and needles, always in my “activity bag” for journeys and waiting rooms. Possession by ASByatt, Alice in Wonderland although I know both almost by heart, just so I can touch the pages. My Mother’s Wonder book of tales. On a practical note, a hedgerow eating book. If I read this later, my list would probably change.
Wonder what would go first now we don’t have Woolworths.
Thank you for such insightful and useful advice we all need right now ..I too was raised on the fairy tales of great gods in the sky that can save us or dam us to hell ..but now Nature is my only believe system ..it doesn’t matter how much we destroy her you will find a tiny shoot amongst that rubble in Gaza or a coloured beetle will crawl out of from the highly radioactive earth and be forever forgiving ..xxx
I would take Ulysses, too. Read it backwards, memorize its opening paragraphs, translate it into all the languages I know. Scary times. Here in Luxembourg we all got anti-radiation pills, but the accompanying note says they don’t work for people over 45.
I think I would take the collected poems of Michael Longley to remind me of the intense beauty of small things, and the music of Brian Wilson to remind me that heaven is right here.
We have left all of our books behind and my husband's piano. I have always been so proud of my beautiful library but it is just by itself now, alone in the dark. War was too heavy for my suitcase we couldn't fit any books in there, we didn't have time for that either. I want all the books, it is hard to pick just a few!
Love from Iran ❤️
I hope you will return to your library in safety and peace, Saba. Sending love to all fleeing conflict, and to those who cannot flee.
Take care, Saba. With love from your unknown friends…
Sending much
love and hope xxx
Lighting a candle and holding you and others living in conflict in mind. ❤️
My son’s Iranian partner’s mother has just fled Tehran. Thinking of you and feeling helpless . Sending love.
Saba and Mr Saba, please take care of yourselves. The library will be waiting for you on your return. As someone who has an enormous collection of books, requiring a few lifetimes to read, I know that each one is precious, and was probably chosen with love, and has its own backstory.
I travelled through Iran around 1971/2 as a driver with a group of eight in a Landrover, camping every night. The time of the Shah and Savak. We were at Persepolis, for Cyrus the Great’s 2500th (?) celebration. I remember Teheran of course, Kermanshah, Ahwaz, Isfahan and Shiraz, and so
much more. I was based in Erzurum in Eastern Anatolia.
May you stay safe, healthy and happy. You will return when the horrors are at an end, and throw open the doors and windows to the dazzling sunshine and clean air of a new and - we pray - time of truth and freedom
for Iran. A beautiful and fascinating country that I will never forget.
Robert from London U.K.
Writing on Substack as KALEIDOSCOPE.
Yes sending you and your family love and strength from the UK
So sorry Saba
Yes, a thousand times yes. Brava for writing this. Sustaining from within. Thank you.
We were talking about the politicization of fear today in our UU Church. Not god fearing…mad man fearing. I said that fear is seeping down to kids. They are anxious in school and there are more bullies. It reminded me of the early 1960s when I was in elementary school near Washington DC during the Cuban missile crisis. I had to get a permission slip signed by my mother. It said “In case of a nuclear attack, do you want your child to stay at school, walk home, or wait for someone to pick her up. I was so afraid of being left at school, I cried and said I wanted to walk home. My fourth grade class was in a new bomb shelter built under the school. Thi fear I felt then was intense and I think the same is happening now. We have to find a way away from hatred and violence.
My parents were child survivors of the worst horrors of WW2. We grew up with a sense of always be ready to flee.
Your question about would we still protest if we were no longer allowed make me think of my Russian partisan Grandfather, and all the many Partisans for whom protesting became a death sentence, and so they went deep underground, into the forests and the sewers and they fought their bloody battles against the oppressors.
That’s what I would do, quietly organise and fight so I might survive to fight some more!
Also makes me think of Surrealist French artist Claude Cahoun and her partner who produced devilishly smart propaganda in Jersey during WW2 in German to make it look like the dissent was amongst the Germans from
Inside their own ranks! Now that’s quality protest!
Great piece, thank you. I'm listening to an awful lot of Broadway show tunes, lately. It's what makes sense to me right now, and brings me joy. And because I know those songsby heart I'll be able to sing to my dogs and my cat, when the lights go out. And the book? I'd take Harriet the Spy with me. Because she's my muse. xo
This Piece/Peace Jeanette Winterson has gifted us with is some of the most Important Wisdom i have perused in Forever… Critical Insight…
I have neglected reading enough of Other's Substack posts while crafting my own...
Something I Intend to Rectify thanks to this post...
Thank you for Your Contributions to My Soul over the years Jeanette...
Blessings on your Journey
🙏🏼💖✨🙇♂️🌌🌈
Your point being, as I understand it, Jeannette, is that we need to take inventory of our what’s in our soul-house.
One of mine would be my dog-eared copy of the Wilhelm-Baynes translation of the I Ching. Can I take three please? or four books? An interesting observation of the "preppers" wanting to take cross-bows, but no books.
Lighthousekeeping & The Weight - pocket sized literary tapestries for our time
Thought provoking and balm for the soul. Pondering which books. Maybe Wintering by Katherine May and After Sappho by Selby Schwartz. Agree with adding on fairy tales or something about goddesses and gods through civilisations. I want to take my loom with me but failing that a crochet hook.
Not sure I would want the potassium iodate unless I had enough for my precious grandchildren. It’s them I worry for. I would take my stash of knitting wool and needles, sewing things and lots of sketchbooks and crayons. Moby Dick - because I still haven’t finished it, and a few slim volumes of poetry.
A mouth organ, a super soft blanket to stroke and huddle in , a thick pad, a pencil sharpener & lots of pencils .
Sewing threads and needles, always in my “activity bag” for journeys and waiting rooms. Possession by ASByatt, Alice in Wonderland although I know both almost by heart, just so I can touch the pages. My Mother’s Wonder book of tales. On a practical note, a hedgerow eating book. If I read this later, my list would probably change.
Wonder what would go first now we don’t have Woolworths.
Maybe try 'The Game' (by A.S.Byatt) ♥️
Thankyou - I shall!
Thank you for such insightful and useful advice we all need right now ..I too was raised on the fairy tales of great gods in the sky that can save us or dam us to hell ..but now Nature is my only believe system ..it doesn’t matter how much we destroy her you will find a tiny shoot amongst that rubble in Gaza or a coloured beetle will crawl out of from the highly radioactive earth and be forever forgiving ..xxx
Wonderful. I would take one book. Ulysses is enough for me. Today is Bloomsday, Molly's day, Stephen's day, Leopold's day.
I would take Ulysses, too. Read it backwards, memorize its opening paragraphs, translate it into all the languages I know. Scary times. Here in Luxembourg we all got anti-radiation pills, but the accompanying note says they don’t work for people over 45.
ha ha no good for me then I'm 73!
I think I would take the collected poems of Michael Longley to remind me of the intense beauty of small things, and the music of Brian Wilson to remind me that heaven is right here.