Radish And Mask Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Radish and mask

By Mill Lake says priest:
"Mask is what we don't need! "

He takes me to Tehran,
Long ago, I was young
And cadet, military…

Our boss was captain,
Very sharp, "Sar Afraz, "
And told us stories
Of the bases, soldiers
Also, things that happened.

"Once, most of our soldiers
Had pain in stomach
With a loose bowl movement."

He told us and went on:
"Contact was telegram…"

He wrote to commanders,
Described the sickness,
And waited and waited
No reply; was too late.

"Bought radish and skinned,
Then, sliced very thin,
In thickness of tablet
And took out my ball-pen."

"Was circle, like tablet,
Pushed through and cut the
Radish like the tablets…"

Then gathered all his men
Had them come, in a lane:
"One by one, open mouth, "
Then he pushed in tablets
With glass of water…

They had faith and got well!