Paradise is Very Lonely
Salah Zangana
When I died, God chose me for His Paradise—the eternal Paradise, the shelter of the righteous.
Paradise is vast, endlessly spacious, and filled with grape, fig, and olive trees. It is full of beautiful houris, yet they are all alike, their bodies resembling something made of recycled plastic. They are cool and emotionless, neither flirting, playing, nor expressing desire.
The rivers flow with wine and honey, yet the wine never intoxicates—its taste no different from fresh water. Even the honey carries the strange flavor of pickled apples.
Paradise is eerily empty. There are no mosques, churches, or temples. No dance halls, nightclubs, hotels, kitchens, or bathrooms. There are no streets, houses, alleys, buildings, or vehicles—not even donkeys, horses, or mules.
There is no music, no singing, no dancing. No sadness, no joy. No love, no jealousy, no hatred, no envy. No virtue, no vice.
Silence reigns. No dogs bark, no cats meow, no nightingales sing, no birds chirp. There are no roosters, no hens, not even flies or mosquitoes.
Time does not exist. No dawn, no morning, no noon, no evening, no night. No days, no weeks, no months, no years. No seasons.
There are no families, no lovers, no friends, no enemies—just billions of strangers, idle and weary.
For a thousand and one years, I have been lying in Paradise, screaming:
“Save me!”
But no one hears. No one answers.
I feel isolated, alienated, and unbearably alone. How I yearn for the world I left behind.
Salah Zangana: A Voice of Iraqi Literature
Salah Zangana is an influential Iraqi writer, celebrated for his thought-provoking short stories that explore existential themes and the human condition. His works have been widely analyzed in academic research, with around 80 critical studies and articles written about his literary contributions. His stories have also been the subject of numerous master’s and doctoral theses in Iraqi universities.
His unique storytelling style was the focus of the book Narrative Structure in the Short Story: A Study of the Stories of Salah Zangana by critic Samir Abdul Rahim Agha, published in 2015. His works have reached global audiences, having been translated into English, French, German, Spanish, and Kurdish.
Recognition and Achievements
- Creatives Award for Short Stories (2002, Dubai) – for his collection There is a Dream, There is a Fever.
- Best Short Story Writer Award (2013, Oyoun Magazine Poll, Iraq).
Leadership and Contributions
Beyond his literary career, Zangana has played a significant role in Iraq’s literary circles:
- President of the Diyala Youth Writers Forum (1990–1994).
- Member of the Executive Office of the Iraqi Youth Writers Forum (1992–1994).
- President of the Diyala Writers and Authors Union (three terms, 2004–2016).
- President of the Narrative Club, General Union of Writers and Authors in Iraq (2011–2014).
- Member of the Central Council, General Union of Writers and Authors in Iraq (since 1996).
A visionary storyteller and a prominent figure in Iraqi literature, Salah Zangana continues to inspire readers with his thought-provoking narratives and deep reflections on life and existence.
