Then Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Then



Then

When Daddy fed donkey with red beets
-in village, we had goats and had sheep
-fresh were the fruits, with cheese, milk
-all grown in our farms, gardens, cheap
-kitchen was storage had oven in centre
-which was made of mud; dug too deep
-black were kitchen-wear churned skins
-in own ghee, did the roasting, cooking
-kitchen scent demanded: "want to eat."

All around brown shades, light to dark
-dusty rock, thirsty land to "Doolagh"
-and mountains, plenty low and high
-clean and blue was, the lapis-lazuli
-blanket that covered all of us, as sky.

Then, one of small boys, I, another devil
-always, like small child, was very hungry
-heard mother's shouts, asking and appeals
-that I let them fly and pass me, as unheard
- "Son, please wear your shoes, be careful."
-joy of game was in our little and bare, foot.

Plenty were the hopes, and dreams, extensive
-wanted to climb high mountains, then ladder
-walk, crawl very high until reaching heaven
-talk with God to reveal complaints in detail,
-of cruel injustice, facing us as small children;
-of growth, we slow in nature, fast trees, animals.

Wished, tried having house and castle, personal
-gathered earth and stones that brought the water,
-flattened and designed with canals and cascades.
-Used the leaf, mulberry's, to extend edge of fall.
-Emptied a bucket of water for farming; reservoir.
-Finally planted some twigs to become our trees.

Great was being child
-childish, wild
-be small, feeling large
-own master; in dream.

Knew not of the books, read or write
-everything natural in plains, to skies.
-Who thought of airplane? Knew not!
-If we saw a wake there shouted out:
- "Look! Balloon! " knowing not what
-plane or balloon was or looked like.

Unlike now when sex is on each page
-I, a child, respected both of genders.
-Maybe men commanded the women,
-as roosters always fought over wives,
-and he goats and the rams acted wild,
-as did males, of other animals…

They acted too natural,
-followed what nature wants,
-in short, saw "The Men Sought."


Then, adobe was a mud-framed-square
-had seen it when was earth
-brought in and piled
-turned into huge bowl
-water poured in centre
-then man, men, with shovel
-took the earth from edge
-threw it in water
-and stirred to thicken
-finally, mud was fit to put in
-the frame (from wood)
-sides and depth proper…
-to fit in hand of mason
- (Not mason with the tools and an eye
-as showcase, slogan; they are all charlatans!)
-Talk is of the simple masons who dedicates
-his being and power
-with knowledge and effort
-to build house
-from base to thick walls
-arranges curves, arches
-to the roofs, the semi-spheres
-which always were covered with Kah-Gel
- (mud mixed with hay-pieces to add to strength; keep connect.)

Then, when child, though the world was large we
-thought of us to be far greater and larger.
-Then the world was nicer, lovelier.

Vehicles were beasts, men
-factories were none in farms, gardens.
-Women worked everywhere
-with men and in kitchens;
-were masters of cooking, laundry
-as well as first teachers and mentors.
-Then men were defenders, hard-workers.

We were just children
-simply children
-unaware of the pains
-of cruel governments
-knew not shah or king
-gave damn for presidents.

But mullahs, preachers,
-pretenders of knowledge,
-charlatans, magicians,
-had grown as devils;
-were witches.
-Showed to be powerless,
-but abused the Menbar,
-led every prayer,
-and owned the power's core.

Nostalgic!
Nostalgic!
Nostalgic!

I feel that; melancholic!
I feel that; melancholic!
I feel that; melancholic!

With adobe were our walls
-stables, every house
-and the fort not too far
-with towers on corners
-reminder of old days.

Then, as said my mother
-attacked us the looters
-had gun and gun-powder
-grabbed men if caught them
-and forced them to confess
-where they hid jewels, fruits
-or stored the crops.
-In that way they would take
-everything they could find…

Looting was OK but
-women were never touched
-attackers were Muslims
-and believed in Koran
- (with respect, but they had never read.)

Avoided bloodshed and murder
-and followed commandments
- "Then why theft? "
-is deep carved on my head! ! !

The locals, my people
-learned to use their brains,
-they dug the storage
-underneath the floors
-built silos in the walls
- (there they saved the crops.)

In our house we had chest in the wall
- (It was called a "Ganja"; meant "home of treasure! ")
-also, built some stores, winding like the snakes
- (behind rooms, or secret mezzanine.)

Nostalgic!
Nostalgic!
Nostalgic!
I feel that; melancholic!
I feel that; melancholic!
I feel that; melancholic!

Now, I use Adobe for my films; to edit.

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