The Forbidden Poetry of Shahyar Ghanbari
Introduction by Ahreeman X

Shahyar Ghanbari is one of the most sophisticated deep spoken poet/lyricists and Artists of Iran in exile. Shahyar is an intellectual who never sold out. After the Reaction of 1979, many of our poets, lyricists, musicians, singers, and artists stayed inside Iran. Many of these artists have not been heard from since then, many kept on working yet released mediocre and a few good works too. But many sold out and wrote, composed, and performed trash in praise of The Reactionary Regime of 79.

As long as there is lack of freedom in our society, Shahyar was, is, and always will be in trouble for sticking up for freedom! Shahyar never sold out, he was on the far side even during the old Imperial Regime, and of course on the Shiite List of the new regime!

Shahyar has an ideological conflict with me and my colleagues; however, it is not an antagonistic conflict. Him being a Socialist and us being Nationalists, well he was always blackballed any way! But we all have a few things in common, we are all prescribing Democracy, solidly opposing Islamic Republic, and never sold out.

I do not agree with Shahyar's stands on politics, economy, and history, yet this does not change the fact that he is a valuable intellectual artist, a free human being, and a great member of the opposition to tyranny.

I am talking about one of the all times greatest revolutionary poets of Iran. Some of you are very familiar with his poems, books, lyrics, specifically the ones written for performers like Dariush, Farhad, Googoosh, etc. He has been a great songwriter, singer and artist. But mostly he is famous for his sharp cutting revolutionary poems, his masterpieces in contemporary poetry of Iran.

Many stayed and sold out, Shahyar fled to fight another day. Right or wrong, agree or not, one cannot deny that he is one of our best living poets. Let me quote one of his favorite ditties:

Khune nagu, kharabe
Vay ke delam kabobe

Don't talk about home, it's destroyed!
Alas, my heart is charbroiled!

Let us value our great poets while they are living and not only after their Death! Let us for once celebrate the "Living" and not do the usual "Dead Worship"! Let's celebrate their work by cherishing their heavily in-depth meaningful words. That's why I will now post one of Shahyar's greatest poems from one of his greatest albums and books: Qadeqan (Forbidden). Posting this poem here is one thing, but hearing him reading it with a mild music background in a gathering of comrades is another! Wish you all could be there!

Isn't it true? In Islamic Regime, everything is forbidden: Your dress, music, books, newspapers, magazines, movies, voice, thoughts, and more! Even you and I are forbidden!

Shahyar states it the way it is:

To qadeqan, man qadeqan!

You are forbidden, I am forbidden!

In the hope that one day all free human beings can write, read and sing their minds freely and openly inside Iran in celebration for the value of individuality and individual freedoms! Until then, we must be satisfied just by posting this piece in IPC. This poem will be posted first in Persian and then in English. It is hard to get the exact meaning of the words of the poet in English, yet the best has been done.

Begu Zendeh Bad Zendegi ......

Say long live life ......

Listen to the song:

Qadeqan (Forbidden)

More Shahyar Ghanbari Songs:

IPC Multimedia

This is a kind of poetry that in its simpleness, it makes you think, hmmm.........

Bon Appetite

Dr. X

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Forbidden Poetry
Shahyar Ghanbari

Qadeqan

Abiye darya qadeqan
Shoqe tamasha qadeqan
Eshqe do mahi qadeqan
Ba ham-o tanha qadeqan

Baraye eshqe taze, ejaze bi ejaze
Baraye eshqe taze, ejaze bi ejaze

Pechpech-o najva qadeqan
Raqs-e sayeha qadeqan
Kashf-e buseye bi hava
Be vaqt-e roya qadeqan

Baraye khabe taze, ejaze bi ejaze
Baraye khabe taze, ejaze bi ejaze

Dar in qorbat-e khanegi
Begu har chi bayad begi
Qazal begu, be sadegi
Begu, zende bad zendegi,
Begu, zende bad zendegi

Baraye she'r-e taze, ejaze bi ejaze
Baraye she'r-e taze, ejaze bi ejaze

Az to neveshtan qadeqan
Gelaye kardan qadeqan
Atr-e khosh-e zan qadeqan
To qadeqan, man qadeqan!

Baraye ruze taze, ejaze bi ejaze
Baraye ruze taze, ejaze bi ejaze

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Forbidden Poetry
Shahyar Ghanbari

Forbidden

Blue of the sea is forbidden
The desire to see, is forbidden
The love between two fish is forbidden
Alone and together is forbidden

To have a new love, you should not ask permission
To have a new love, you should not ask permission

Whispering and murmuring is forbidden
Dancing of the shadows is forbidden
Discovering the stolen kisses,
In the middle of your dream is forbidden

To have a new dream, you should not ask permission
To have a new dream, you should not ask permission

In this homely exile
Write the simplest poems
Say what you have to say
Say long live life,
Say long live life

To write a new poem, you should not ask permission
To write a new poem, you should not ask permission

To write about you, is forbidden
Even to complain is forbidden
The fragrance of a woman, is forbidden
You are forbidden, I am forbidden!

To start a new day, you should not ask permission
To start a new day, you should not ask permission

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Shahyar Ghanbari

Shahyar Ghanbari Sites
Shahyar Ghanbari Site