Souvenir Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Souvenir

Like to feel nippiness
-of the air on my face
-when sitting squat
-on the leaves on grass.

Want to be idle and
-think of the work of hands
-of my hosts (Mennonites,)
-thanks to the old Abram.

Both genders, men, women
-as well as children
-were clothed too simple.

Farms, horses and cattle
-were their main life sources.

And of course, religion.

Religion as light and barrier
-to wall them off others…

I attended the church
-I entered with the men
-who hung hats on the wall.
-Then we sat on benches
-far from the females
-who sat on other side.

Beauty filled the air
-of women and the girls
-and simple dresses
-in colours; like today
-where I sit and whisper
- "Miracle, miracle, miracle! "

Ladies worked hard at home,
-cleaned, sewed, prepared,
-and milked cows…
-They valued everything
-to pieces of cloths; precious.

Accepted, took with me
-one of gifts; smallest,
-to carry and have it
-as the best souvenir.

Sure, patient were women
-who took the pieces of
-left overs of cloths
-converted to the mats and quilts,
-far more colourful than dress.

Now, here, with the leaves
-varied in size and hymns
-when falling, gliding
-and dancing and jolting
-with breeze and the wind
-feel I have my mat and
-thank my hosts of the past
-and time when was with them.

Thank you, Mother Earth,
Thank you, the Nature,
Thank you, brothers
Many thanks to sisters.

I look in distance where
-unites us horizon
-as do the Sky, Earth!

I enjoy beauty
-of life in unity.

Put aside the feelings
-of my own belongings
-anything of binding
-anything of barring
-off others as "Pagans…"

Dislike the flags and
-anthems and shrines when
-divide and segregate. Love quilts
-and the mats of those girls...