How Quickly the Party Ended

How Quickly the Party Ended is a collection of free verse poems by Rasool Yoonan, first published in 2014. These poems are selected from four previously published books by Yoonan; a selection of his poems between 1998 and 2013. New unpublished poems are also included in this book. Rasool Yoonan, a poet, writer, and translator, was born in 1969 in a village near Lake Urmia and now resides in Tehran. He has published several collections of poetry, short stories, and novels. A selection from two of his poetry collections, titled “A River that Passed through Paintings,” has been translated into Armenian by Vahe Armen, and some of his works have also been translated into Sorani Kurdish by Mariwan Halabcheyi. Whether as a poet or a novelist, Yoonan’s perspective and angle of view on the world and human relationships are unique and distinctive. At times, the reader doubts and asks themselves how it is possible for the world to be so transparent and pure, and yet they have not realized this purity and clarity. In his stories, his narrative is so simple yet intricate that the reader feels as if they are floating on a rubber raft on a calm sea, gently carried forward by a soft breeze. In his works, Yoonan portrays human experiences and challenges. Regarding the book “How Quickly the Party Ended,” Yoonan says: “I selected these poems myself, and their difference from anthologies chosen by Mr. Pouri and Mr. Mokhber is that in their selections, I am reflected in their mirror, whereas here I am reflected in my own. After all, everyone has their own taste. As for the form, I cannot say much. Inevitably, when you enter a particular space, you also find the specific form of that space. What matters is the harmony between form and content, and that is something others should judge.” The title of the book is taken from a poem called “The Party”: We heard no song If only the musician had come earlier We ate no fruit If only we had seen the fruits sooner The host yawned Swallowed the lights and laughter Empty-handed We return to ourselves to die How quickly the party ended We had just arrived. “How Quickly the Party Ended” is captivating and worth reading for poetry enthusiasts, particularly fans of Rasool Yoonan’s simple poems.