He Called Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

He called

Wants to write his book and
-promised to call and
-update me

So he called…
-as he did yesterday
-and before yesterday
-in the week every day

I read him a poem…
-then listened…
-let him talk and speak…
-want him say things he says…
-in days I learn a lot…
-in days think is nonsense…
-critique, logical I must call but cannot…

He watches the TV serials
-among them many soap operas
-looks at them and takes them serious
-successful, Hollywood's brainwash…
-"What the hell? ", "Go to hell! "
-want to say, explain:
-"Hey, I am one of them…
-writer of scripts…and poems…"

Words stop in throat; do not say:
-"…some of them serious…
-but mostly are useless…"

Expects to be man in government…
-"How poor are your people…"
-boils question in me but stops…
-his people are in part my people…
-we have one history, literature to culture…
-even faith…brutal our borders…
-neither he nor do I practice…
-…just in name…have same faith!

Brilliant and well-read…
-he is vase of knowledge…
-…abandoned treasure…
-in times I feel drunk
-like having some bad wine…
-turned spoiled vinegar…

Unlike me he believes …
-in Yankees and Europe…
-in the West as single…
-"Have you read…? "
-mean to ask:
-"…of Lawrence…
-of London in Tehran
-and Iran in London
-and our kings
-our culture
-interest in tears
-all the times set to weep
-and in shah as leader…
-dictator…

I do not and in me burns fire
-feel guilty deep inside
-yet happy…
-"Give him time to become confident…"
-tell myself and am sure:
-"…he needs more practice…"
-"…as poem needs loud voice…"
-"…in that way it will be corrected…"
-"…poems talk…even shout…"

Therefore I let him talk
-confident I am of
-him doing as camels
-and the lamb, its mother
-Moving up the half-chewed…
-to re-chew…then digest…

"Let him talk…
-let him talk…
-let him talk…"
-I say and believe that in this fight…
-will grow to be good
-if allowed to speak! ! !