man and no coiling Chinese clouds。 Just the ground； the sky； myself and the
horizon。 But my story is much more plicated。
2。 As a tree； I need not be part of a book。 As the picture of a tree； however；
I’m disturbed that I’m not a page within some manuscript。 Since I’m not
representing something in a book； what es to mind is that my picture will
be nailed to a wall and the likes of pagans and infidels will prostrate
themselves before me in worship。 May the followers of Erzurumi Hoja not
hear that I secretly take pride in this thought—but then I’m overe with
the utmost fear and embarrassment。
3。 The essential reason for my loneliness is that I don’t even know where I
belong。 I was supposed to be part of a story； but I fell from there like a leaf in
autumn。 Let me tell you about it：
Falling from My Story Like a Leaf Falls in Fall
Forty years ago； the Persian Shah Tahmasp； who was the archenemy of the
Ottomans as well as the world’s greatest patron…king of the art of painting；
began to grow senile and lost his enthusiasm for wine； music； poetry and
painting； furthermore； he quit drinking coffee； and naturally； his brain
stopped working。 Full of the suspicions of a long…faced； dark…spirited old
geezer； he transferred his capital from Tabriz； which was then Persian territory；
to Kazvin so it would be farther from the Ottoman armies。 One day when he
had grown even older； he was possessed by a jinn； had a nervous fit； and
begging God’s forgiveness； pletely swore off wine； handsome young boys
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and pai