Taqvaee’s Forgotten Face in Summer Literature / ‘That Same Year…’ is Still a Readable Book

In the quiet corners of the literary world, some valuable works and their creators are unjustly forgotten. One such case is the poet Mohsen Taqvaee. This summer, it is worthwhile to revisit his noteworthy collection of free verse poems, “That Same Year, That Same Month, That Same Woman,” published by Cheshmeh Publishing in 2012.

Taqvaee, in this collection, emerges as a mature and thoughtful poet. He steps away from simplistic expressions of emotion to craft poems that are both introspective and observant. His work is a testament to the idea that true poetry is born from a deep, sorrowful contemplation of the world. He writes:

“Every time the phone rang
I ran to it barefoot
And every time it was you on the other end
Who had called the wrong number…”

The poems in this book revolve around timeless themes: love, loneliness, the passage of time, and the elusive nature of memory. Taqvaee does not shout; he whispers his observations, positioning himself as a sad witness to fleeting moments. His language is precise and unadorned, allowing the weight of the emotions to come through naturally.

His love poems, in particular, are marked by a quiet dignity and a profound sense of longing. He captures the melancholy of waiting and the bittersweetness of remembrance with a skill that sets him apart.

Years after its publication, “That Same Year, That Same Month, That Same Woman” remains a powerful and readable book. It is a collection that deserves to be rediscovered, offering readers a glimpse into the work of a poet who, though not in the limelight, has made a significant contribution to contemporary Persian poetry.