Restaurant Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Restaurant

Must have been half-asleep
-or maybe half-awake
-when I heard "The Dogs' Box"
- (as Mom called!)

As always, it was on,
-kept talking, played songs.

For long I have been child
-to day-night radio; all the time.

This one was past midnight.
-before dawn…

It stole my conscious
-entire attention.

Was about "Restaurant"
-referrals to the books and experts.

I listened and listened
-to the depths of the case.

"Started in France
-with the word ‘restaurer'"

Somebody explained:
- "In fact, is a ‘Tavern'"

Then defined the tavern
- "It grew in France in the time of revolt
-when people had a bite at tables to chatter."

Panorama of my mind screens ‘Caravan'
-with people, animals march forward;
-rich with loads and experts
-and cargo and knowledge.
-They stop to enter a ‘Seri', ‘Inn' or ‘House'
-that feeds them and lodges caravan.
-There, people mix, exchange.

As have done for too long,
-breathe deep and smile:
- "How small! "

Think of ant and Rumi
-when shouting on the leaf:
- "The world is on flood! "

Ring questions in my head
-I whisper with deep sigh
-as toll the churches' bells:
- "But why they…? "
- "But why they…? "
- "But why they…
-brag while lack knowledge? "

I find me in cave of Plato
-and to him I listen:
- "If one is tied to look in front
-and forced to see shadows,
-takes the false as truth, after time! "

There, I see that engine
-is, in fact, from wheel…
-and can see CNC
-as blade progressed.

The same is with hotel, Inn, Tavern,
-Restaurant…
-all were found on base of Caravanserais.

But the West being west and a thief
-must retouch, re-present with a change
-to claim: "It is the original, genuine,
-and Western! "

Too narrow in the mind
-are writers and authors, lecturers, preachers
-who are too devoted to nothing but surface.
-They are ‘Mean' and are ‘Dumb'!

They speak as did ant on the leaf:
- "They have theirs we have ours! "