This Mirror Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

This Mirror

The weather, this summer
-is cruel, betrayer
-feels hotter than flame of fire!

"Health of head and your heart, "
-said doctor:
- "…depend on the footwear! "

Took off shoes and led feet to shower
- (The coldest possible…)

Suddenly came to mind the mountains
- (where was born and grew to an age,)
-there we had spring of water with pebbles.

No one dared to dip hand for more than
-some seconds! ! !

Nobody had the guts to touch them;
-leave alone reaching out for marbles
-to remove, keep in palms!

It was so, since bubbles
-from the sides and walls,
-as well as the floor
-and beneath the pebbles
-competed with icebergs!

Further deep, inside the reservoir
-laid many skin-bags
-each, every, all of them were filled with
-the day's and, recently made yoghurt.

Near wall of stones to gardens
-sat many huge pots on fire…

The smoke and flames were great
-in smell, and dancing in colours…
-from woods, and bushes, branches
-brought in from farms and mountains,
- (life giving was nature.)

Many were the large pots of brass
-filled with milk of morning
-that women had gathered
- (now stirred…)

When heated they would take,
-let it cool to the right temperature
-then would add some yoghurt
-give it time, keeping in right place
-to have lots of yogurt…

They, also, took away filled skins
-and set them on a rug or carpet
-and then shook, shake, shake, shake.

The skins, by shaking, grew fat
-so huge as if the goat came back,
-then opened the necks, but slowly
-letting gas to exit;
-reaching with the right hand inside it
-bringing out butter.

Then again, shook, hunted for butter
-till was not worth being considered.

They gave name to what was left over
-which was a milky sort of water
-and in taste was sour…

Dough, it was, looking like the Kefir
-of Russians…(Milk-water!)

Since remain was lot and far beyond
-consumption of the day and summer
-they poured it back in pot
-and again, helped fire…

Water would evaporate…

They added flour…
-and stirred and stirred
-thick thickened.

Now, the whitish outcome was named Kashk…

But, still some remained
-dark, black as one sees bitumen,
-this one was, called: "Qara" and truly sour…

Each, every part of this process was good and
-was reserved, preserved for winter
- (when the cold was killer
-and the farms unconscious…)

The lambs kept in summer
-in this time, killed, butchered
-with all parts, from head to the tail
- (both inside, external,)had place
-in the food, recipe, on plates.

Even the vegetables
-like beetroots and carrots
-and turnips to cabbage
-were stored in small piece of land,
-dug and filled and covered.
-When brought out to light
-they would join the meat and the dairy product.

Then the food would be served
-in huge bowls, plates
-and we shared with bare hands
-or wooden carved spoons…

Oh, those days were great
-sun did shine but reflect
-was never from the
-asphalt roads or cement!
-If ever reflected was from
-the mountainsides or slabs
-made from mountain-rocks.

Doubtlessly miss those days
-want them as one loves the Paradise.
-Want my home with breath or without,
-want them if am dead and lay flat or can walk…