FIRST BOOK OF POETRY
Published in 1945
Choice of Themes:
Sheybani's use of themes is the legacy of a quest for justice belonging to the constitutional revolution period in Iran (Mashroutiat)
and is replete with socio-political overtones.
Choice of Words:
In this collection, He uses words that belong to the modern world (e.g., electric lamp, piston, cigar). There are three thematic
sections of 'Realist' (15 poems), 'Idealist' (13 poems), and 'Fantasy' (6 poems) in this collection. As held by a critic, Sheybani
clearly was familiar with Western literature and modern poetry (Safee-e-Kadkani).
Choice of Format:
Sheybani experiments with formats employed by the neo-traditionalists, such as čhārpāra (foursome) and its
variations, and someinnovative subspecies of the emerging canon of modern poetry (see, e.g., "Hedia-ye Mowjha"
and "Kargar-e pir"; Jaraggeh, 1945, pp. 102-4; and 30-32, respectively). In addition, Sheybani also experimented with broken
meters in the collection. Two different meters in "Chador" and at least four variations in meters in "Iran" (Jaraggeh, 1945, pp.
124-27; and 117-23, respectively). Sheybani's proclivity to transcend Nima's innovations appears in his incessant and calculated
urge to manipulate established rhymes and rhythms; this, as held by critics, has often cost the work its poetical subtleties
(Behbehani, Babachahi).
