In Search of Shared Wishes

“Why do walls extend as far as a prisoner escapes? How do wars mirror free will?”

These are some of the key questions that Mansour Noorbakhsh asks us in his debut poetry book, In Search of Shared Wishes. Dedicated to the child victims of war, this epic and lyric poem arises from Noorbakhsh’s ruminations about the vital signs of a peaceful world, and how these signs have been damaged by systems of corruption and war. Told through multiple perspectives—including that of an angel who has come to Earth to save it from its own destruction—In Search of Shared Wishes creates a dialogue about fear, violence, and free will. Multicultural legends and literary allusions are interwoven throughout the text, producing a diversified and rich understanding of identity and history.

It is Mansour Noorbakhsh’s hope that his writing and expressive working through of difficult topics will encourage readers to think critically and empathetically about our current world in crisis, fostering a discussion of love and compassion so that the vital signs of a peaceful world can be restored.