Khavaran Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Khavaran

Have lived long to know what
-may happen through time.

Saw revolts and took part
-saw murders, genocides.

Saw name-change
Saw death of old heroes
Saw "Evil" as "Hero" and reverse!

Our house was near the
-ancient-mud-ice-makers
-called "Yakhchal."

Water was led in and
-ice was formed in blocks
-then they were broken, carried out
-in heat of summertime
-in the bags and on the animals
- (like camels, donkeys, cows…)

I observed and recall…
I observed and recall…
I observed and recall…

Then changed the life style
-fast, came in electrical
-died Yakhchals
-as did the farms around, nearby
-converting to buildings of the town
- (vaporised old like fog…)

Ancient games that had roots in culture
-were replaced by new, imported
-plastic, or semi, play cards
- "KEM" was good for Rami, Rum, poker.

Our new small house in Tehran
-was neither too close nor too far
-from farms and Yakhchals, Khavaran
- (Then known as non-Muslims' graveyard.)

Khavaran which now is a shrine
-for victims and murdered as rebels
- (important for today's literature)
-for me and for people of those days
-men, women, and new immigrants
-to Tehran; who settled in East part
-means turning of pages by changes
-of rulers and cultures, way of life…

I observed and recall…
I observed and recall…
I observed and recall…

Once there was a Golf-Course
-possibly our-first-one
- "Don't go there! " we were warned.

But always there is line
-dividing old and young:
- "Your wrong is my most right! "

We, the kids in our teens
-went there in mass and teams
-played and opened eyes
-to what our elderly
-rejected, did not want…

I observed and recall…
- (Khavaran of that time!)

I observed and recall…
- (Khavaran of that time!)

I observed and recall…
- (Khavaran of that time!)

Therefore, I dip in time
-British removal of our shah
-replacing dad with son…
-and the son being theirs
- (Greyhound to fetch hunt,
-enforcing the imposed…and outcome?)