For Both Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

For both

Today in hospital
-visited an old pal
-much taller, thinner hair
-on face, neck had wrinkles
-not only from age
-also of illness, pain
-tummy was cut open by surgeon
-they removed tumour of cancer…
-he has lost all of his sigmoid colon
-directly connected are colon and rectum
-stitches with heal and self-dissolve
-for five years has to be under watch
-that is if pathology confirms the removal
-of cancer in total…

Seeing this and talking with the nurse
-named: Michelle…
-took me back deep in time
-me being school boy, age twelve…

He went to Esfahan and returned to Tehran
-called us both, me, Yahya
-knelt as if a young man to a girl
-in his hand ring, offer, propose,
-or in church seeking God's forgiveness
-he murmured a poem:
-'Oh yes a sad nightingale misses the grass
-sibling is valued when losing brother.'

We were two small chicks in his arms
-though he was older by just seven…
-too dumb or too naive we were lost
-till he pinned black bands our chests
-yes I had lost hero… Ahmad, my brother
-he meant life and learning, a master and actor, director…

He died since lost part of intestine
-like my pal
-to the oil and smoke, kerosene
-at a time when less was everything…
-hey poem go to them, my pal and brother.