To Thirteen Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

To thirteen

He came and in the cold
-with the wind gave feeling
-not nine but at nineteen
-took me out in leased car…

In such times best is to be ear
-and I was…
-and he turned nightingale
-sang and sang till bled
-his rosebud
-in a pain

Talked of work, said of life
-New Home, Istanbul
-history of wedding
-the wife he did not see
-till married
-selected by parents…

Child of that area
-I know of
-their culture
-studied and lived with
-their way and history
-also heard of Farhad
-of pains of families
-homesickness of the wives
-sitting home with the walls
-difficult to adjust
-unaware of the tongue
-no mixing but mixed-up
-cannot talk nor to like

Complaints are mountains
-behind are the old kind life styles
-but old faiths
-old cultures
-Najes, Pak
-hand in hand
-make nooses
-at the door, in the mind

He received a text that
-sent his wife
-related to Zeynab
-pass it on thirteen times
-pains will die, health will come!

Tricksters brainwash,
the same with the shamans, medicine men
Spread superstitions! ! !

I held my smile back
-recalling our trip
-to Gonbad
-and meeting the lady named Bibi

Both women are Sunnis
-act Shiites
-as if they are far more
-expected of Shiites…
-and still enemies
-strong opposes

Zeynab is sister of the Shiites'
-Third Imam!
-they respect more than us
-if not, same, equal
-and still they damn, curse
-back and forth

Want to laugh
-at them all

But love them
-innocents
-simple
-dumb

She, Zeynab, had two sons
-to front sent them to sacrifice
-for sake of brother
-devoted are sisters

I know the history
-I lectured
-gave speech
-and played the role in
-Taazieh or Shabih
-Islamic theatre,

In my mind screen and on it,
-run pictures, history

His wife sits at home and that is all
-giving birth, unaware to train
-children for here
-has no work
-may never
-grew in old culture
-within walls
-no action
-is just wife…

Hear him not wanting to eat food
-not wanting of his wife's
-in lunch box
-disapproves what she does
-we end in restaurant
-rice, kebab

Now has sent the message
-pass it on thirteen times
-pains will go, gain will come

He is the main column
-to dome, roof
-of lost life
-of parents, and uncle, relatives
-the Kurdish immigrants
-if he falls
-Crash will everyone

I listen as if mouse inside wall
-as do pet animals
-wag a tail
-turning eyes
-purring, bark
-calmly, soft

As poet and writer
-and also filmmaker
-have tons of stories
-facts, fictions
-look for ways
-I have to transfer
-to artists, audience.