The response to the video has left me stunned. It was my first time to be videotaped since university speech class 20+ years ago, and I was nervous. When I watch it, it strikes me as less than authentic because I slip into a persona when I’m nervous. Also as soon as I said the word “mama,” my dialect changed! That happens when I read aloud, for some reason. Reading aloud triggers the Southern dialect.
The YouTube video got posted to very top of a digest of interesting links about Iran and/or Persian, resulting in the video being viewed over 1000 times in two days. Via Sylvain’s YouTube account, I’ve received a stack of comments from Iranian viewers, the majority of whom just want to tell me that I am just so darned cute, and that I pronounce gh and kh well. Sylvain seems to be getting a kick out of updating me on how many people have added me to favourites, how many stars the video has, and how many viewers have subscribed to see future videos he produces. One person offered to help me with Farsi anytime I get stuck, and one sent a link to this poem by Hafez (sometimes spelled Hafiz). I just had to share it with you.
photo by Eric Gustafson
That’s great! Amazing how things happen.
You didn’t seem nervous to me, you just seemed happy :) So wonderful that you got such a response.
Loved this poem. I will keep it in my faves. Thanks!
I love that the Iranian people are so responsive to you and your video. Good thing Sylvain has a strong sense of self and is not jealous of this attention you are not getting. Sort of a Blog-Movie Star and he your faithful manager. And BTW you are CUTE! LOL
YOU ARE GETTING…ooops.
Kelly, you look just right on your video – and you have made a great impact too. I see all those comments there.
Thanks for being my editor. I’ve fixed the misspelled curious.
How much fun.
I admire you for putting yourself out there.
I hope you do so again.
Dear Kelly,
I’ve posted your video in Balatarin(Persian version of Digg) two days ago.
this the link of the post.
http://balatarin.com/permlink/2007/12/17/1194276
what fun to see you and enjoy this amazing language!!! warms hugs and yuletide blessings to you, dear kelly xx
Oh this is so beautiful. Kelly I watched yr video and found it and you delightful. And even more delightful is the response you have gotten!!! Wow. You are an amazing person. Well, now you maybe have a video business started, you and Sylvan.
That video depicted something more than your cuteness or your good pronunciation….
It is the story of a soul who knows love… who is encompassing a whole world…
The way you were saying, ” This is the book I love most in the whole world”… that enthusiasm and passion (you referred to as nervousness) and that maskless true being ( your regression to southern accent) , all created a work more than all these…
Hafez says:
When you drink wine spill a sip on the ground
Fear not the guilt that benefits others
Think it is applicable here . You have spilled a sip of that love that is brimming in your soul…
That’s why everyone is influenced by your video…
human being. YOU are so soulful and full of love too. Your reflections on my blog and other’s blogs are always deep and heartfelt and warm. I am honored to know you. suki
This is just a beautiful thought to carry around. :)
stummarafnassine
that poem hit me like a ton of bricks. in a good way.
That’s the same reaction I had Brandi, I absolutely love this poem.
Just came by to see your cute self again, and do love this poster with the little kids in it.
Want you to know there is an award for you to pick up next time you feel like stopping by my blog site.
Kelly, it was such fun to see you! When you slipped back to the AR accent I grinned and grinned. It took me right back to high school. I’m so awed at the impact you’re having on folks. Very, very cool.
I gave you an award at my blog–same one as from Lynn, I think.
Loved the video! You are charming, and very cute, but also very real–and that translates into any language…
KikiVision is a HUGE HIT! This is just TOO EXCITING! Little did Sylvain know that with that one little video, just like a small seed, would grow a sensation…Wouldn’t it be weird if someday people would say “KikiVision” and everyone would know what it meant? Like MTV or Showtime!
I’m glad you shared this with us, because I don’t often notice the numbers. It looks like it’s still going up and will soon top 1500!
Peace and continued successes of all types,
O
Hi – came over from artinthegarage, sharing the True Blue award (and see you around all the time) – fell in love with this mural and would like to use it on my blog…possible? LOVE the quote!
What a wonderful mural! Thanks for sharing. How wonderful for the two of you to receive such marvelous responses to your 1st video. I suppose that means we can expect to see more from you, right? I’m playing “catch up” this afternoon because life’s been too busy lately to get everything done. I see you’ve got another post too. Oh goodie — it’s your 12 Random Christmas things … I’ll be right there to read it.
Hugs and blessings,
Don’t you just love the unexpectedness of life? Beautiful Hafiz poem.
Hi. I’m From Iran – Shiraz. Hafez was from Shiraz city and Yesterday I was Hafiz’s tomb. you know, Hafiz was Perfect Master.
I write a poem By Hafiz:
1- O thou void of news (of love)! Strive that the master of news, thou mayst be:
so ling as way-farer thou art not, road – guide how (is it that) thou mayst be?
2- In the school of truths (and of ma’rifat), before love’s master (the murshid, per-fect and execellent);
Ho! O son! Strive that, one day (worthy to be) father (old) thou mayst be.
3- From the copper of thy existence, like men of the Path (tarikat), thy hand wash,
so that love’s alchemy, thou mayst obtain; and gold thou mayst be.
4- far from love’s degree, thee, sleeping and eating put;
to love, thou attainest at that time when sleepless and foodless thou shalt be.
5- When, on thy heart and soul, the light of God’s love falleth,
by God (I swear) that fairer than the sky’s (resplendent) sun thou shalt be.
6- A moment, immersed in God’s sea, be; think not,
that, to the extent of a single hair, with the water of seven (all the) seas (of the world) wet, thou shalt be.
7- From head to foot, thine all God’s light shall be,
when footless and headless (the world’s chattels and ease abandoned), in the path of Him possessed of majesty, thou shalt be.
8- If the face God be the spectacle-place of thy vision
after this, not a doubt remaineth that the possessor of vision, thou shalt be,
9- If, below and above (ruined), the foundation of thy existence be,
Think not in thy heart that, below and above, thou mayst be.
10- Hafiz! If in thy head be desire of union (with the true Beloved),
It is necessary that the dust of the court of Him possessed of vision, thou shouldest be.
Sorry to have propagated untruth. The poem on the mural is not by Hafez unless we believe that Daniel Ladinsky channels Hafez from the afterlife. My apologies. See this story: http://payvand.com/news/09/apr/1266.html
I would very much like to use this image in an educational product. Could you contact me concerning this.
I love Hafiz and adore the translations of Daniel Ladinsky and
think this picture is totally charming.
I’m so sorry, it is not my photograph. It was taken by Eric Gustafson. A link can be found here: http://www.inspiringcities.org/index.php?id=395&page_type=Article&id_article=18151. I hope you manage to contact Eric. I will put a credit note on my blog, which I should have done the first time. Kelly
Hello, i am Padra from Iran. Thanks for appreciating Hafiz as a global poet .
i just wanted to know the real place of this nice painting if you know .
thank you so much and wish you love :)
Hi, Padra, I’m afraid I don’t know where the mural is. What I know is that after I posted the photo, I found out that it wasn’t a direct quote from Hafez. Daniel Ladinski published a book of poems called The Gift which he claims came from (dead) Hafez to him. I’m not sure if Mr. Ladinski was awake or dreaming when he “received” the poems from the spirit of Hafez. Anyway, this quote about “after all this time the sun….” is from the book The Gift. So really I’m not sure if we should be putting Hafez’ name at the bottom of it or Mr. Ladinski’s name. I guess it depends on whether you believe that dead people can deliver poems to the living. Peace and blessings to you, Kelly