Sheema Kalbasi is an Iranian American poet whose work has garnered international recognition, including a humanitarian award from the United Nations and grants from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A two-time Pushcart Prize nominee and a nominee for the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, she is the author of the full-length poetry collection Echoes in Exile, which has been featured on Stony Brook University’s Women and Gender Studies reading list. Her poetry has been anthologized and translated into over twenty languages, reaching a global audience. Notably, in 2012, Canadian Senator Roméo Dallaire concluded his speech on Iran by reciting excerpts from her poem “Hezbollah.” Additionally, her poem “The Passenger” was selected and performed at the Tribute World Trade Center in New York in 2008.
Her poetry and translations have been taught in classrooms and colleges worldwide, adapted into short films, and set to music in Soprano and Piano Trio compositions. One such composition, based on her work, was presented at the Smithsonian National Museum.
Spoon and Shrapnel: Verse and Wartime Recipes
USD $ 10.00 – USD $ 12.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageSpoon and Shrapnel: Verse and Wartime Recipes
USD $ 10.00 – USD $ 12.00Spoon and Shrapnel uniquely combines poetry and recipes to explore the experience of surviving the Iran-Iraq War through a child’s eyes. As a survivor herself, Sheema Kalbasi brings forth raw memories of fear, loss, and resilience through verse, while accompanying these poignant moments with simple, nourishing recipes that sustained her family amidst scarcity and danger. Each poem is paired with a recipe, alternating between the emotional depth of poetry and the practical art of cooking traditions that offered hope during wartime. The poems deliver vivid, emotional insights into life during the conflict, while the recipes—crafted with scarce ingredients—represent moments of comfort and survival. Together, they form a narrative tapestry where food and poetry intertwine, reflecting how one family, and an entire culture, persevered.
Kalbasi’s work goes beyond her personal experience to present a universal story of resilience, illustrating how, even in the harshest conditions, humanity finds strength in the simple rituals of cooking, eating, and storytelling. Spoon and Shrapnel is a tribute to both physical and emotional survival, offering readers a rare glimpse into everyday life during war.Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page