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　t