September 05, 2005
Noudsheh, The Alps of Iran
Noudsheh is a city on the very border of Iran & Iraq. It’s on the environs of Paveh, a city that is 150 km. far from Kermanshah. Noudsheh has a history as ancient as its fire-temples. It is surrounded by the mountains, the woodlands of acorn, wild plum, van, and many different kinds of fruit trees.
Noudsheh, The Alps of Iran
Noudsheh is a city on the very border of Iran & Iraq. It’s on the environs of Paveh, a city that is 150 km. far from Kermanshah. Noudsheh has a history as ancient as its fire-temples. It is surrounded by the mountains, the woodlands of acorn, wild plum, van, and many different kinds of fruit trees. Moreover, the botanical coverage, which provides the nourishment of the cattle, can be added to other sceneries of this wonderful nature. The fruit trees are walnuts, pomegranate, fig, grape, berries, pear…etc.
The natural aspects of Noudsheh are really unique. Its beautiful sceneries catch every eye, and inspire any person of good taste. It would not be exaggerating to call this area the Alps of Iran. Noudsheh is a silent virgin shelter for the people who are fed up with the machinery world of technology and daily routines. If you spend one summer night on the cool height of the mountain, you will cut an opening to an endless space that will drown you in its endless galaxies. Despite its rough mountainous, and sufferings in the war of Iran & Iraq, and domestic war, Noudsheh has been left virgin and original.
Recently, a road has been made to Paveh , like a sleeping black snake in the heart of the high mountain, deep narrow valleys, and clear geysers, and even the large river “Sirvan” cannot disturb the silence.
Crossing two tunnels into the hearts of two mountains, this road has a lot of natural and anthropological sceneries that you could see people free from the fake annoying dependants of our days, maintain living their lives full of passion, hope, love, simplicity intermingled with their suffering. The people who can comprehend water, and are close to the anonymity of the wet grass, Even if some grief reaches them from top of the mountain, they will eliminate it with their tough tolerant nature, as they endured 8 years of war, full of missiles, and bombs.
In a world full of worry and insecurity of war that was full of fear of death and suffering, they survived, and could heal so many bruises and wounds with their high spirit, and toughness. Though no one noticed their tolerance, and the dust of war still weighs against people’s chests, there seems no one to offer them some consolation.
The architecture of Noudsheh’s houses in strong grains of stone, mud, or wood can be presented as a sign of its residents’ high spirit who with such authenticity have remained on the borderline of tradition and modernity. This merge of tradition and modernity is related to being up to dated on one hand, and believing in their authentic traditions in religion, lifestyle, dress codes, and also their open minds.
These people have stories for themselves; true stories that have changed to legends over years full of mystery that makes you involved and wonder for a long time. They are Ourami Kurds. Ourami is the remaining language of Avestaei. The Avestaei roots are easily noticeable in this dialect. Noudsheh has four wonderful seasons. The spring weather, as Great Ferdowsi puts it: “full of passion on a full of movement land”. Summers are cool full of fruit gardens. Autumns are like a rainbow of colors and winters are full of silence of snow that sit on the mountains, the woods, valleys, and cliffs that brings up a worldwide white.
Mokhtar Shokripour
Translated by: Mansoureh moddares
Two Poems by Ida Bahrami: "Alas!" & "Light"
i was wandering in the alleyway all alone / where the shadow demon sits on his sinful throne / but the blackness of the shadow nor sin could i see / for deep in my mind i was thinking of thee / you bind my heart with fiercest ties / yet whether be freed, this little bird dies / your prisinor for ever this bird shall be
~ Alas ! ~
i was wandering in the alleyway all alone
where the shadow demon sits on his sinful throne
but the blackness of the shadow nor sin could i see
for deep in my mind i was thinking of thee
you bind my heart with fiercest ties
yet whether be freed, this little bird dies
your prisinor for ever this bird shall be
yet only by your side my heart is free
your love is a cage and i a bird
such love no one has seen or heard
a shadowy thought whispers : " run away ! "
yet it shies away in your shining ray
it comes again at night when i sleep
but you're also in my dreams be shallow or deep
i see you in my dreams so clear and bright
gently whispering : " everything is gonna be right "
your words are enough for me to feel
the freest bird whether it not be real
but then i wake up and all is gone
it only remains the glamour of dawn
i cry in pain for its clear to me
such words in real world can never be
so gentle and calm like moonlight beams
can only these words belong to dreams
the dreams of night be what they may
what i like the most are dreams of day
it is in dreaming in day that i
can see what in real is banned to my eye
i imagine you holding me in your arms
protecting me from all evil harms
you kiss my lips and let me fly
thus the little bird flies high in the sky
it flies freely for a little while
till its hunted by a hawk and crushed to a pile
this hawk is reality and bird my heart
thus is the wicked realities art
it binds and crushes and makes me see
i only am day dreaming of thee
i wake again , on my bed i lay
with your thought again i passed my day
i was thinking of these in the allies dark
when i was walking without no mark
suddenly i heard a sound in front
i raised my head without my want
striked with shock i was when i
saw it was you passing me by
to say a word i opened my mouth
but you passed me by without second thought
you walked straight into the mass
i said my word, it was " Alas! "
by Lunaida
~ Light ~
You are the light from far above
I see you, yet I cannot reach
I cannot tell you of my love
I must be wary of my speach
For if a single word be told
The hope to be near you is gone
My mouth I must now tightly fold
For if it opens, I'll be undone
I pray to God to give me wings
So I can fly in the sky of night
Towards the place which dwell the kings
And reach to you, my sire, my light
Yet, I know if this, I can do
And I can walk with you abreast
I'm not allowed to speak to you
Of the secret hidden in my chest
For there are many who cannot bear
My eternal and sacred love for you
And if they know, my heart they'll tear
To kill my love what ever they'll do
So silent and wary I will remain
And hide my treasure, my love from all
I'll carry this burden with all it's pain
In the battle of life I shall not fall
by Lunaida