Schizo-National Anthems

Georgian poet Paata Shamugia (b. 1983) amusingly exposes the farcical double standards of a young post-Soviet nation marked by a reactionary church and self-absorbed government officials. He made his debut in 2006 and immediately became infamous as his poems caused uproar among the conservative and religious communities. His continued career has been crowned by several awards and nominations, and he was the first poet to win the prestigious Georgian SABA Literary Award twice for best poetry collection. Two poems translated by Charles Bernstein and the poet, were previously published in the literary magazine Jacket2.