My poetry depicts you: An anthology of contemporary Kurdish poetry

'My Poetry Depicts You' is an anthology of Kurdish contemporary poetry, which is rare in the sense that there have not been many similar attempts before. It contains 126 poems by 18 poets whose work covers over 100-year period.It is a general introduction to the contemporary Kurdish poetry and its unique features, which may not be familiar to English readers.These poems are from different time periods, under various oppressive Iraqi regimes. Most of the poets included were active during the former ruling Baath Party. Three of the writers, Dilshad Meriwani, Mala Ali and Barzan Osman, were executed under the Baath regime. Abubakir Ali was allegedly killed by Kurdish security services, and Irfan Ahmed died under suspicious circumstances whilst in Kurdish detention. For the remainder, with the exception of three, all the other poets fled for international protection as a consequence of their work.I have listed the poets in this anthology below, starting with two poems by Nali (1797-1869) to provide a flavour of classical Kurdish poetry, which may not be as familiar to English readers. Nali - 2 poems Abdullah Goran - 2 poemsAhmed Hardi - 1 poem Yunis Rauf Dildar - 1 poemKamaran Mukri - 4 poemsAbdullah Pashew - 41 poemsSherko Bekas - 7 poemsDilshad Meriwani - 11 poemsRafiq Sabir - 14 poemsGoran Meriwani - 13 poemsMohammed Omar Osman - 5 poemsVenus Fiaq - 2 poems Dilsoz Hama - 2 poems Barzan Osman - 1 poemEsmayil Mohammed - 5 poems Hussein Maulud Ahmed, known as Mala Ali - 3 poems Abubakir Ali - 1 poemIrfan Ahmed - 1 poemOn top of these, it includes 10 more poems. It total includes total 126 Kurdish poems.A short biography of each poet is given. An essay that gives insight of the evolution of Kurdish Contemporary School of poetry and its pioneers, chiefly Sheikh Nuri Sheikh Salih (1868 - 1958), Rashid Najib (1906 - 1968), Rafiq Hilmi (1898 - 1960), Abdulrahman Bagi Baban - also known as Abdulrahamn Bagi Nifus, (1878-1967) and Abdullah Goran (1904 - 1962).It is of real interest to any fans of poetry, or of Kurdish and Middle Eastern literature. The anthology is rare in the sense that there have not been many similar attempts before.