The Man With The Tank Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

The man with the tank

Char-Bagh of Esfahan
-in real ‘Four Gardens'
-was watered by brooks
-fertilised by people.

The nation as Muslims
-cleaned, washed to pray.

Government erected
-public baths, private
-for every man, woman
-to do what they needed;
-washing top and under.

Streams of water
-carried this all the way
-to trees and bushes
-to grow, blossom…

Canals were covered but
-open was idea…

But today's modern face
-shows cement and bricks
-with nature almost dead!

The manure for farmers
-came from animals
- (and mankind)
-now, all, is chemical!

Oh, changes…
Some for worse!
Regret, guilt or remorse?

Grew fast the cities
-walls, alleys, streets
-brought change rapidly.

The toilet in each house
-was set on top of well.

Farms distanced from towns
-things were sold in bazaars.

Each well had a channel
- (open hole to alley.)

The experts of farmers
-at first walked house to house
-on their backs carried bags;
-dipped shovels, scooped out
-and removed lid, took out
-the sewage left behind.!

Oh, changes…
Some for worse!
Regret, guilt or remorse?

Farmers' bags turned to tanks
-they brought beasts and carts
-on the carts tanks, metal.

Oh, changes…
Some for worse!
Regret, guilt or remorse?

Later tanks had engines
-for moving and sucking
-with a hose thrown in
-every well, perfectly.

But worst tank that I saw
-was when I wore local
-and grew beard long.
-An Afghan owned a tank,
-like many, after war…
-He drove round and round
-and left me to wonder:
- "What went wrong? "

Oh, changes…
Some for worse!
Regret, guilt or remorse?