Is There Anybody There?

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Ms. Sholevar's collection of poems written in Farsi, her native tongue, is entitled "Is There Anybody There?" It was published in Tehran before the Revolution of 1979 and was Ms. Sholevar's first book of poetry. The poems in this collection tackle frustration, love, despair and the fear of an unknown end.

Walking With The Moon

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"The majority of the poems printed in this anthology were written in Germany during the Krefeld Period.  Poems such as "Your Own Prophet", "A Crazy Daydream", "A Cold Wild is Blowing", "The Longest Distance", "In Vain", and "Scandal" mark a radical change which has also taken place in her personal life.  A certain composure and peacefulness can be perceived in many poems, which despite all skepticism reveal the pervading optimism of the poet.  ... [A] lyric-melancholic mood arises, which carries most of the poems and creates its most expressive image in the moon metaphor.  A certain nostalgia resonates and wallows its flowers, colors (purple) and natural phenomena (rain, sunsets, etc.) in a partially retrogressive yearning. Paradise is always also lying behind us." Excerpt from the Introduction written by Andrea Kosslowski, Editor. 

Wait For The Sun

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"Wait for the Sun" is a collection of poems by a disappointed adolescent who is still hopeful that something warm and illuminating like the sun may happen. The writer advises the reader to wait for the sun even if it is dark and gloomy.

Let Them Be Distressed

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This book represents a phase of a writer's life when she is disappointed in everybody and everything around her. The protagonist of the story accuses her society of oppressing its people and allowing ignorant individuals to rule the community. The protagonist takes her revenge on society by setting the village on fire to teach it a lesson. While doing so, she exclaims: "Now let them be distressed" because they made her life unbearable.

Nacht – Sonnen

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"Nacht Sonnen" was published by Kafai Printing House in Duesseldorf, Germany. Two poets, Anne Christa Richly and Fereshteh Sholevar, put their poetry together and created this book. At that time, both were members of Hafizieh, a literary and cultural center for Persians and Germans in Duesseldorf. This collection of poetry highlights two poets, each with different mentalities and cultures. The poems deal with love, death, fantasy and reality. The title translates to Suns of Night, taken from a poem by Ms. Richly.

And The Blue Continues

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Ferestheh Sholevar's "And the Blue Continues" is a collection of numerous poems that draw from her years of experience as a student of diverse languages and cultures. Beginning with Iran, she spent a major part of her life moving around different parts of the world in a quest of self-exploration and finding peace. This book opens with "The Wise Virgin", a poem that rings out with intense feeling and knowledge. Sholevar makes the reader understand the kind of questions that pass through a young bride's mind and makes the readers realize the problems faced by women in a male dominated society. This poem, however, is just one of the myriad of experiences that the collection contains. Similarly, in the poem, "But, I am Not', the poet reaches out to those who have lost someone near and gives shape to a work of anguish, loneliness, and distress yoked with a feeling of nostalgia making the reader desire to read it again. "War" deals with the innumerable man-made conditions that have forcefully reduced men to the level of beasts by feeding on their desire to always better their fellowmen and challenge without any moral compunction even the weaker segments of society like women, children, and the elderly. Sholevar, as can be seen from the few examples that are taken at random from this brilliant anthology, poignantly conveys life in the present day as not being victimized by unseen forces and highlights the importance of courage and fortitude in daily life. Emiliano Martin, a Spanish poet who has already proved his skill with words and rhymes in his native language, is the translator of this collection. He beautifully brings out the subtle nuances present in Sholevar's poetry. He effectively translates not just the word but also the spirit of the poem. This collection is a must read for everyone who believes that the human spirit prevails over seemingly insurmountable odds. Bookwire Review March 22, 2005