Old Tehran Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Old Tehran

Close eyes on and off
In movies, imagine screen; a wide one.

See buildings, sidewalks, street, and
People on their feet, on the bikes and lesser
Motor bikes, or in cars

Go in time
Fifty to sixty years from now
New is the Pepsi
(Most of the soft drinks but not ‘Dough',
The so called water-milk;
And Araqs
The herbal extracts.)

Now you are in Tehran
Big city of Iran but small
(It is bigger by folds now,)
Black-White Mercedes is taxi
Doors open to the sides
It is roundish
Give zero, a seven and a one
(In reverse, for model)
Normal is the walking
(Easiest)
And bike is fantasy and fashion
Except for business
Delivery, collectors
Among bikes there is one
It is loaded with yoghurt
In ‘Taghar' and ‘kaseh'
(Or clay containers, large, small,)
The biker is expert
Can carry almost ‘Ton'!
On his head are trays
In three, four layers
And each one has ‘Taghars'
On handle; cargo part, even bar
Has loaded small bowls
And ‘Dizi', (clay vase) .