O' Chaldeans, When Do We Rouse?

Book excerpt: The book includes one hundred eleven poetry quartets written with inspiration dictated by multiple circumstantial events, including what is related to the Chaldean issue and its merits and what deals with the Chaldean ecclesiastical reality and its dimensions affecting the parish. Twenty-one quartets express the feelings of the Chaldeans towards each other and towards certain factors that determine their fate. Thirty-three quartets touch on a few decisions of the Chaldean Church and the behavior of the spiritual leaders, which inflicted a negative impact on the feelings of parishioners in general. Fifteen quartets highlight the weight of the city of Babylon in Mesopotamian Christian history and the reaction of the educated and conscious elite of the Chaldeans towards the decision of the Chaldean Ecclesiastical leadership. This decision marginalized the Babylonian symbol that has accompanied the Chaldean Church since its foundation. Nine quartets ridicule the officials of the International Chaldean League for their negative attitude towards the marginalization of the entity of Babylon by the Chaldean clergy. Seven quartets affirm that the term “caliphate” has an Islamic connotation that does not accept any doubt or controversy, both linguistically and historically. Eleven quartets refer to the electoral farce in which the Christians of Iraq are competing for only five seats. Ten quartets declare that many clergies do not respond to the queries of the Chaldean people and criticize the contempt of some of the Chaldeans and their mockery of the academic achievement or the cultural output of their peers. The last five quartets conclude that what is mentioned is not meant to be a matter of reproach or defamation but rather for reform and renewal. Selected passages from the quartets inspired eight fine artists. Their magic fingers created twenty-five sketches that add to the totality of the poetic quartets a splendid luster and distinct beauty.