Majid Qeysari’s Stories on the Consequences of War in ‘Old Snow, New Snow’

According to a reporter from the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), ‘Old Snow, New Snow’ comprises seven short stories by Majid Qeysari on the theme of the consequences of war. Its titles include ‘Holland Alley’, ‘Bismillah’, ‘Camp’, ‘Adham Bridge’, ‘Wandering Fatihas’, ‘Old Snow, New Snow’, and ‘Picture Frame’.

From a section of the ‘Picture Frame’ story, we read: ‘On the left side of the photo, an old black ribbon is attached. The woman holds the picture frame with both hands to her chest, her eyes darting between the soldiers who stand respectfully on the trailer bed by flag-draped coffins and gladiolus wreaths. It’s as if she’s looking for someone to show the picture frame to. Drops of sweat sit among the white strands of her hair, and occasionally she pulls the sleeve of her knitted blouse across her forehead. The picture frame shows the face of a young man, twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Just as the trailer carrying the coffin jolts and starts moving, black smoke billows from its exhaust. With eagerness, the woman raises the picture frame above her head, hoping one of the soldiers might look at it. The woman walks alongside the trailer, passing through puddles and mud she doesn’t see, sometimes slipping but paying no attention. She holds the picture frame above her head, shows it to the soldiers around the coffins, and shouts: “Haven’t you seen him?”‘

The third trailer also passes, and the woman continues to shout. A soldier standing at the crossroads holds a list, attached to the back of each trailer, towards the men and women who, even after forty years, are still searching for their lost ones.

As the trailers depart, the road returns to its quiet state. The woman still stands watching. The soldier, with the list attached to the back of the trailer, approaches the woman. The woman brightens at the sight of the soldier. She says to the soldier: “Haven’t you seen him? Is he not here?” The soldier asks: “Mother, what is your son’s name?” The woman, frowning, replies: “He is my father,” turns away, and walks towards the quiet road.’

Majid Qeysari, who serves as the scientific secretary of the 18th Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award, began writing stories in 1993 and was a judge for the adult short and long story section of the 11th Soureh Young Poetry and Story Festival. He also judged the fifth edition (2005) of the Martyr Habib Ghanipour Book of the Year award and, in the third round of the Haft Eqlim Literary Award in 2013, judged the submitted works in the novel section alongside Ahmad Aram. Qeysari also judged the story section of the ‘Qand-e Parsi’ Festival.

Among Qeysari’s works are ‘White Grave’, ‘Public Celebration’, ‘Guardian of Darkness’, ‘Shammas Shami’, ‘Three Priests’, and ‘Three Flower-Selling Girls’.

Ofogh Publications recently released ‘Old Snow, New Snow’ in 160 pages, priced at 275,000 Tomans.