Almond Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Almond

Went to John (a big shop)
-to purchase varied nuts
-one of them was almond.

Huge bags in centre
-were filled with pistachios
- and walnuts to almonds; many more
-in windows and cases or boxes…
-of metal, wood, glass-containers…

With them I flew to summers, far;
-formed and shaped in the farms
-then parted by earth hips as borders
-with water streams among them…

Saw Dad and his friends and workers
-held shovels to lift sands and stones
-to direct the current.

Moved around animals
-both free and semi controlled
-the roosters and the hens with broods
-searched in earth for worms, food
-and the seeds forgotten by farmers.

Goats climbed the trees
-sheep and child with husband had fat tails
-lazily leaned on sides; chewed, mimicked.

The magpies, black-white
-jumped around and crows
-as did the sparrows, butterflies
-begged, stole but beetles rolled cargoes.

Sun, as king, had throne in sky, demanded
-vine trees spread branches, gave shadows.
-Summer heat gave speed; and arrived fall
-colourful was canvas in the farm.
-Departed fruits, all. If any, was too rare.
-The almonds had unzipped their jackets.
-Their green was dyed in deep brown.

Most people in village
-regardless of the age and gender
-men, women, children
-held in hands long sticks
-stretched them too far; had to reach
-hit on heads of almonds and walnuts
-force them to immigrate and depart.
-Displaced by victor
-the poor nuts fell on land.
-Lifted them happily, men, women…

Gone autumn, in winter
-came season of Korsi,
- (square short table with four legs)
- (on it a large quilt)
- (under it a Manqal with fire)
-around it mattresses and pillows.
-On top of the Korsi, Majmaeh…
- (a round and large plate of copper
-but whitened by Mesgar!)

Came time of games, fruits; special
-for the cold of ice time and snow.

In plate on Korsi, or maybe in Taqcheh
- (the shelf made in the heart of the wall)
-sat a light, lit the room with flame of a wick
-that swam in grey kerosene,
- (Normally of glass below lamp.)

In store, I could see the smoke
-and the dancing flame…
- (part amber or yellow, partly red.)

I followed the seasons, to middle of winter
-saw mortars come along and looked at
-everyone holding a long stone, rectangle
-to use it as hammer
-taking out from the belly of the mortar
-the almonds, break the shell (rock-hard)
-then clean, separate the kernel.
-In this way eating was enabled.