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 painting； which is proof enough that after this great shah lost his taste for
coffee； he also lost his mind。
This was why the divinely inspired bookbinders； calligraphers； gilders and
miniaturists； who created the greatest masterpieces in the world over a
twenty…year period in Tabriz； scattered like a covey of partridges to other cities。
Shah Tahmasp’s nephew and son…in…law； Sultan Ibrahim Mirza； invited the
most gifted among them to Mashhad； where he served as provincial governor；
and settled them in his miniaturists’ workshop to copy out a marvelous
illuminated and illustrated manuscript of all seven fables of the Seven Thrones
of Jami—the greatest poet in Herat during the reign of Tamerlane。 Shah
Tahmasp； who both admired and envied his intelligent and handsome nephew；
and regretted having given his daughter to him； was consumed by jealousy
when he heard about this magnificent book and angrily ousted his nephew
from the post of Governor of Mashhad； banishing him to the city of Kain；
before sending him off to the smaller town of Sebzivar in a renewed fit of
anger。 The calligraphers and illuminators of Mashhad thereupon dispersed to
other cities and regions； to the book…arts workshops of other sultans and
princes。
Miraculously； however； Sultan Ibrahim Mirza’s marvelous volume did not
remain unfinished； for in his service he had a devoted librarian。 This man
would travel on horseback all the way to Shiraz where the best master gilders
lived； then he’d take a couple pages to Isfahan seeking the most elegant
calligraphers of Nestalik script； afterward he’d cross great mountains till he’d
made it all the way to Bukhara where he’d arrange the picture’s position
and have the figures drawn by the great master painter who worked under the
Uzbek Khan； next he’d go down to Herat to mission one of its half…blind
old masters to paint from memory the sinuous curves of plants and leaves；
visiting another calligrapher in Herat； he’d direct him to inscribe； in gold Rika
script； the sign above a door within the picture； finally； he’d be off again to the
south； to Kain； where displaying the half…page he had finished during his six
months of traveling； he’d receive the praises of Sultan Ibrahim Mirza。
At this pace； it was clear that the book would never be pleted； so
mounted Tatar couriers were hired。 In addition to the manuscript leaf； which
was to receive artwork and scripted text； each horseman was given a letter
describing the desired work in question to the artist。 Thus； messengers
carrying manuscript pages passed over the roads of Persia； Khorasan； the Uzbek
territory and Transoxania。 The creation of the book sped up with the fleet
messengers。 At times； on a snowy night； Chapter 11 and 29； for example；
55
would cross paths in a caravansary wherein the howlings of wolves could be
heard； and as they struck up a friendly conversation； they’d discover that they
were working on the same book project and would try to determine between
themselves where and in which fable the prospective pages； retrieved from
their rooms for this purpose； actually belonged。
I was meant to be among the pages of this illustrated manuscript that I
sadly heard was pleted today。 Unfortunately； on a cold winter’s day； the
Tatar courier who was carrying me as he crossed a rocky mountain pass was
ambushed by thieves。 First they beat the poor Tatar； then they robbed him and
raped him in a manner befitting thieves before mercilessly killing him。 As a
result； I know nothing about the page I’ve fallen from。 My request is that you
look at me and ask： “Were you perhaps meant to provide shade for Mejnun
disguised as a shepherd as he visited Leyla in her tent？” or “Were you meant to
fade into the night； representing the darkness in the soul of a wretched and
hopeless man？” How I would’ve wanted to plement the happiness of two
lovers who fled from the whole world； traversing oceans to find solace on an
island rich with birds and fruit！ I would’ve wanted to shade Alexander during
the final moments of his life on his campaign to conquer Hindustan as he died
from a persistent nosebleed brought on by sunstroke。 Or was I meant to
symbolize the strength and wisdom of a father offering advice on love and life
to his son？ Ah； to which story was I meant to add meaning and grace？
Among the brigands who’d killed the messenger and taken me with them；
dragging me headlong from mountain to mountain and city to city； there was
a thief who occasionally understood my worth； and had the refinement to
realize that looking at the drawing of a tree is more pleasant than looking at a
tree； but because he didn’t know to which story I belonged； he quickly tired of
me。 After dragging me from city to city； this rogue didn’t tear me apart and
dispose of me as I’d feared he might； but sold me to a cultivated man in a
caravansary for a jug of wine。 Sometimes at night this unfortunate delicate…
spirited man would stare at me by candlelight and cry。 In time； he died of grief
and they sold his belongings。 Thanks to the master storyteller who purchased
me； I’ve e all the way to Istanbul。 Now； I’m most happy； and honored to
be here tonight among you； the Ottoman Sultan’s miraculously inspired；
eagle…eyed； iron…willed； elegant…wristed； sensitive…spirited miniaturists and
calligraphers—and for Heaven’s sake； I beg of you not to believe those who
claim I’ve been hastily sketched onto coarse paper by some master miniaturist
as a wall prop。
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But hear yet what other lies； slander and brazen untruths are being spread！
You might remember how last night my master nailed the picture of a dog
here on the wall and recounted the adventures of this crass beast； and how at
the same time he told of the adventures of Husret Hoja of Erzurum！ Well now；
the admirers of His Excellency Nusret Hoja have pletely misunderstood
this story； they think he was the target of our account。 Could we have possibly
said that the great preacher； His Esteemed Excellency； was of uncertain birth？
God forbid！ Would it have even crossed our minds？ What mischief； what a
crude lie！ Clearly； Husret of Erzurum is being confused with Nusret of
Erzurum； so let me proceed to tell you the story of Cross…Eyed Nedret Hoja of
Sivas and the Tree。
Besides denouncing the wooing of pretty boys and the art of painting； this
Cross…Eyed Nedret Hoja of Sivas maintained that coffee was the Devil’s work
and that coffee drinkers would go to Hell。 Hey； you from Sivas； have you
forgotten how this enormous branch of mine was bent？ Let me tell you about
it； then； but swear you won’t tell anyone； and may Allah protect you from
baseless slander。 One morning； I awoke to find that a giant of a man—God
protect him； he was as tall as a minaret with hands like a lion’s claws—had
climbed up onto this branch of mine and hidden beneath my lush leaves
together with the aforementioned Hoja and； excuse the expression； they were
going at it like dogs in heat。 While the giant； whom I later realized was the
Devil； attended to his business with our hero； he was passionately kissing
his lovely ear and whispering into it； “Coffee is a sin； coffee is a vice…”
Accordingly； those who believe in the harmful effects of coffee； believe not in
the mandments of our good religion； but in the Devil himself。
And finally； I shall make mention of Frank painters； so if there are
degenerates among you who have pretensions to be like them； may you heed
my warning and be deterred。 Now； these Frank painters depict the faces of
kings； priests； noblemen and even women in such a manner that after gazing
upon the portrait； you’d be able to identify that person on the street。 Their
wives roam freely on the streets anyway—now； just imagine the rest。 As if this
weren’t enough； they’ve taken matters even further。 I don’t mean in regard to
pimping； but in regard to painting。
A great European master miniaturist and another great master artist are
walking through a Frank meadow discussing virtuosity and art。 As they stroll； a
forest es into view before them。 The more expert of the two says to the
other： “Painting in the new style demands such talent that if you depicted one
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of the trees in this forest； a man who looked upon that painting could e
here； and if he so desired； correctly select that tree from among the others。”
I thank Allah that I； the humble tree before you； have not been drawn with
such intent。 And not because I fear that if I’d been thus depicted all the dogs
in Istanbul would assume I was a real tree and piss on me： I don’t want to be a
tree； I want to be its meaning。
58
I AM CALLED BLACK
The snow began to fall at a late hour and continued till dawn。 I spent the night
reading Shekure’s letter again and again。 I paced in the empty room of the
empty house； occasionally leaning toward the candlestick； in the fl