Dead Man's Shadow
Collected Poems

Leonardo P. Alishan was an Armenian-Iranian-American poet, short story writer, and playwright, as well as a scholar of Persian and comparative literature. Alishan’s writings—his poetry in particular—although very personal, speak to shared experiences and persistent issues inherent in the human condition. "Dead Man’s Shadow" is the first collection of his poetry to be printed since his untimely death in a house fire in 2005. This volume reflects the diverse literary influences on his unique, cosmopolitan voice. Thematically, the collection includes poems about human nature, theodicy, identity, patriotism and nationalism, the Armenian genocide, war, and exile.