Book week poet Sholeh Rezazadeh: ‘Poetry ensures that you do not feel strange, crazy or lonely’

“Poetry has less a permanent place in society in the Netherlands than in Iran,” says Sholeh Rezazadeh. She is the author of the titll -free book week poem that starts with the rule ‘In which language will I give you words. ‘ In 2015, Rezazadeh (1989) moved to the Netherlands. She wrote two novels and last year her poetry debut appeared Take the sea well said.

Rezazadeh is the seventh book week poet, in a book week that revolves around the theme ‘Je Moerstaal’. “For me, the poem is that everyone feels a bit different and that it is therefore sometimes difficult to communicate. We understand each other less, so we have less space and attention to each other. In the poem I ask to hear other voices, to understand other languages ​​and look at communication differently. ”

To reinforce that idea, there is also A listening version of the poem. Rezazadeh reads the poem not only in Dutch, but also in Persian and Azerbaijans. “I notice that people in the Netherlands are a bit scared of poetry. You often hear ‘I don’t get it at all’, and everything revolves around what you have to get from a poem. You can leave those thoughts behind you if you only listen. And you may reach people who have a problem with reading. ”

Are Persian and Azerbaijans both your native language?

“I have thought a lot about this lately and I really can’t say which of the two is my native language. Just like many people in Iran, I grew up with several languages. Persian is everywhere, on TV, radio, at school, in books and newspapers. I come from the province of Azerbaijan, and spoke at home with family and friends Azerbaijans. So I can’t really choose. Maybe Persian, because for my poems that language is my native language. So let’s say: Persian is my literary native language. ”

As a connecting power, poetry got you from home, you told in interviews. Does poetry also have a connecting force in the Netherlands?

“I have noticed that poetry in the Netherlands is more for a small, elitist group, which means that less happens with it automatically. In fact, just like music, you should come across poetry everywhere – that ensures connection. Because poetry is less present in the Netherlands, you get less chance of connecting people, while you can share emotions with each other through poetry. Whether it is a poet from a few centuries ago or of your generation in a different language, show poems how we share everything with each other. Apart from time, from nationality, from gender or whatever. ”

Is imagination then the connecting power, or beauty?

“Beauty. Or … the fact that there have been poetry and stories for thousands of years, says enough. With beauty you will find comfort in a poem, thanks to imagination you think after reading: ‘Okay, it is also possible’ or ‘I have felt it for years, but I could never put it’. Poetry, and art in general, ensures that you do not feel strange, crazy or lonely. I think that’s one of the gifts of poetry. ”

You write in the Book Week poem: “My language is more true than my heart.” In your bundle it says ‘Let me hear a story with words in it that have arms’. In one rule, the mind seems to win, where in the other the emotion and the physical is sought.

“For me, both in the question in which language you can ’embrace’ can best describe. Dutch is restrictive when it comes to emotions. There are very few words for emotions. For example, in Persian you have many different words for the layers of friendship. Someone with whom you have such a strong bond that you, as it were,, in and out at the same time, because you do so many things together or are so strongly matched, such a person is … Yes how do you say that, your ‘co-breath’ or something. In Dutch that sounds exaggerated and sentimental, in Iran it is used on the street.

“If you pick up the phone in Iran and you don’t know who it is, there is a chance that people say:” Hey my flower, say it “or” Day my breath, what do you want? ” It is in the nature of the language. When I was still living in Iran, I was less aware of it. If you distance yourself from the language and learn a new language, it will notice.

“I sometimes miss words. The Dutch language has fewer bridges, fewer metaphors, you say what you want to say. On the other hand, that is why I love the Dutch language: it is less loaded with emotion. I need to be less afraid that I will not come to certain words, or that it will be too emotional. ”

In your bundle you also write: “In which accent can I love you, now that the words in my throat have become bricks?” What language are those bricks made of?

“Maybe Persian. That is what I mean available with fewer words. In Persian you have a word for when you want to say something, but are so emotional that you really can’t say anything. A kind of lump, but then stronger. I tried to write that down in Dutch and I thought ‘brick’ fits well.

‘Accent’ is also about people often ask me: “You have an accent, where does that come from?” Then I think: “Let it go, I can just say what I want to say”? ”

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