Dolphins Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Dolphins

"Surprise, surprise, "
-same a call:
- "Received it, I have got! "

It was my brother
-who is two years younger,
-talked about my passport

I was on Black-List
-banned to have a trip
-and from the service
-of mullahs, I opposed!

To do so had escaped.

Though two years are apart
-seem twins, on and off.

Went to passport-office
-taking my photo and my ID
-and applied; forging me…

Once again, time for risk
-get a pass and leave.

The pass used in Dubai
-was from the old regime
-with which I did exit
-and time was extended
-by those in Karachi.

Those in need will try;
-Can they be crazy?

If slaves were cut, marked
-we must hold the notes of
-central governments…

Had to go and get them! ! !
-if not would be a beast
- (giving ride to Dubai…)

I was ex-officer
-used to facing dangers.

Got in dhow for trip
-passengers Balochis.

Like spies and agents
-had a name and address
-to inform who I was.

Our load was cigarettes
-purchased to smuggle.

I, an ex-officer
-was expert pf danger.
-revolted against shah
-lost the game to mullahs
-then, in mass was drowned.

Served two years in the war
-took alive to Fronts
-brought back body parts,
-saw bullets passing by
-bombs fell and I survived.

Had slept in deserts
-and rivers and forests;
-risking is part of me
-as best to define me.

This could be, possibly
-another, small one…

Passengers were few
-from the same area.

Departed Umm Al Quwain
-and then were on our way…

The sea waves were endless
-they married horizon
-far away in distance…

Near sights were the best
-when dolphins came in herds
-marched along our vessel,
-playful like the waving friends
-smiling, wishing well…

Grey, white, gymnastic
-figurative, majestic.

We went on
Set the sun
Came stars

The sky was blue
-a true work of God.

Remembered my childhood
-in the village, freedom in mountains
-and the sky had a path to Mecca;
- (Milky way.)

We counted the stars
-being born and/or die.

And the boat went forward.

Our lives were in hand of
-an expert captain…
-and I wore what they did
- (Traditional Baluchi's!)

The seller, carriers, and buyers
-had their signs as do the warriors.

Fishing boats had anchored
-with us they exchanged lights
-then jumped our captain;
-in no time he was gone
-like dolphins, we had seen.

Gave order on return:
- "Turn to south, add distance."

And we went out of sight
-from the border guards.

We were corks in the day
-cradles were the waves.

I was an elephant
-in the room but silent.

Though no one said or asked
-from me and my task
-I could read in their eyes
-some echoes in distance…

Backbiting and guesses!

Arabs' Sea was hazy
-with the fog and dusty;
-therefore, we surrounded
-were in, sort of mirage
-if had been in the desert! ?

Had to wait until dusk
-to return "Once again."

Having been flyer
-I knew the stars
-looked above, in sky
-and observed for a time
-noticed that we were lost.

Approached the Captain
-asking him to be mine:
- "I want me to remain
-unnoticed, half-secret…"

He gave me his word and
-I began to speak:
-told him of the stars' location,
-and our path and heading:
- "I won't tell anyone
-but I know we are lost! "
-he, humbled, accepted…

I became commander
-told the man at the helm:
- "Turn, spin, but stay
-between those two stars…"

From then, no blink
-felt in charge of the lives
-did not give a damn for
-cigarettes they carried…

The cargo was mean to
-travel to Tehran…
- (by using any means,
-camels to backpackers.)

Though was a passenger
-I knew their method
- (same are all borders.)

Was groups' investment
-my Baluchi friends
-were in charge of purchase,
-and shipping arrangement.

They live a willow life
-in limbo, all the time
-as do laws of two sides
-with flags and anthems…

Following my orders
-our vessel went forward
-flickered some sea-lights
-they were the fishing boats
-some of them were spies.

Captain rolled his pants
-and dived and swam, went…

Watched him go a-tortoise;
-constant and, firm, slow.

Did not take him long till
-he ended our waiting.

He broke promise
-told others my secret
-and did so in his way,
-which made me a hero.

Everyone knew that
I had been a pilot…

We anchored in Gulf of Meidani
-approached us small boats
-with one and with two doors
-to carry the cargoes…

I was first, VIP,
-therefore, felt alien,
- (reserved was my camel.)

Everyone was rushing;
-took us long to offload
-prepare caravan;
-with camels in muzzles!

Camels walked for hours
-it was cold and my legs
-became numb by the end.

I felt as had entered
-a field with many moats
-a large fort, but natural
-the mountains replaced walls.

Had no doubt that someone
-had bribed police, guards
-to remain out of sight…
-deaf ears and eyes shot,
-with zippers on the mouths.

It was cold and fire
-could be seen, here, there
-with the boiling kettles.

Around me battlefield
-everyone was busy
-with cargo to carry
-in backpacks or as beasts.

In thin shirt and shalvar
-I, too, was Baluchi;
-the hero was dusted,
-VIP meant nothing!

Was nippy and needle
-entered and bit skin!

I sat by some fire,
-near me, blanket
-covered single person
- (and for one was too big!)

I laid and rolled me
-as did in committee
-with carpets of the mosque
- (made me look like a hotdog!)

Soon, I was fast asleep
-to wake up in the morning.

The owner had left, gone
-found myself all alone…

Was scared, almost peed
-ugly men,
-bearded and shaved heads
-with their eyes, blackened
-to show them wide and large
-like women using much mascara.

While lying in hiding
-looked at the naked feet
- (that is how were walking
-except some with sandals
-of rubber, old tires…)

Deeply into my thoughts
-and recalled Abuzar-Ghaffari.

"Hunger kills the faith of a loyal."

So, got up fast, to hide
-to be out of their sights.

Maybe, I fooled myself!

Baluchi smart, have signals
-they track every path in the dark.

They do not know schools
-know little about tools
-deserts' life is natural
-in hardships, they survive.

Soon after, came time for
-bike rider, their leader
-I became a hero; respected.


Rahman was only one
-to own a motorbike.

He drove, me on back
-we ended in mud-house.

He grabbed a rooster;
-killed and cut for our lunch.

Then was the briefing
-as we did for flights:
- "a bike ride to the Jeep
-till guard post and again
-on the bike to mullah's house
-and again, jeep and off…"

"They will go for check up
-while you are with Mullah
-then you join; and bye-bye."

The mullah was Sunnis
-thought of me as Shiites
-found the time to tell me,
-about right and the wrong…

I like both and dislike!
-to him, I lent ears, not my tongue!

Came Rahman…picked me up
-we drove to Bampoor…
-this tale is very long.

In short:
-First, I went to Tehran
-then passport in Shiraz
-then after to airport…

Met wife of a friend
-she was pale and scared
-asked me if could help her;
-took her ring, saved for her…

Years were gone when was caught
-in the airport of Tehran and ended in Evin.

Each stage is great
-much is left to be said!

Now, here, voyaging
-in the books and cultures
-of friends, First Nations
-see those as the torches
-shedding light into caves.

Laugh loud at the people
-with degrees as experts.

They have shut their windows
-to the facts of outside
-nine to five go and come
-to, from offices
-furnished well and cushioned.

These blind preachers
-sit and eat at tables
-know nothing of hunger
-what they say are guesses.

Poor people know nothing
-of balloons with puffing.