Poets hope to spread peace

Iranian Cultural Society members share work at Charleston Library

It is poets, not logicians, who will save the world.

At least, that's the philosophy that led to the Iranian Cultural Society's monthly Poetry Night, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the West Charleston Library, 6301 W. Charleston Blvd.

"Poetry is the softest form of communication in any language," society member Massoud Sepand said. "It's unfortunate that there are more logicians running the world now than poets because they are not interested in true communication, and that's the reason for all our conflicts. If poets ran the world, things would be different."

The poetry readings are cultural events where Iranian-American poets recite both original material and read from the great works of the past.

According to Sepand, who also is a poet, the theme that runs throughout most of the readings is one of tolerance and love for humanity.

"We want the world to see and hear our heart," Sepand said.

More than 400 society members turn out for the events, which sometimes include cultural music.

"We want not just to band together as a community, but to savor our culture and our language," society founder Arakel Khajbtoorians said. "This is also an opportunity to find common ground with the community."

According to Khajbtoorians, the group's aim is to build a bridge between Iranian and American cultures.

"The best way to do this is to allow people to experience our culture, see our beautiful works," he said. "Only then can we begin to truly understand one another."

Each meeting lasts approximately two hours, and readings are done in Farsi, the Iranian native language.

"The meetings are conducted in our language," Khajbtoorians said. "But we don't see it as a deterrent for interested parties who only speak English. The best way to understand the world is to see it through a different perspective, and submerging yourself in another culture is just that. We hope that people will come out and listen to our beautiful poetry."

The next poetry meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8. The meetings are open to the public.