Tonb Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Tonb

Too early in morning
-dawn's silver had passed me
-don't recall if slept, could have not
-lost the night while on deck and watching.

Where went night?
-could not say cannot now! ! !

Melted-lead was leaving the surface
-golden sun was landing, on velvet.

And still, I stood motionless
-on the deck of vessel;
- (fishing-ship, trawler) .

I was there
-in waiting, mesmerised.

Our crew of kolkhoz
-carried the smell of Soviet
- (a long dead and buried,
-divided, scattered) .

In Mather A. F. B.
-with Reagan governor
-I had learned to read maps
-in sky; on the sea and ocean
-and to find directions, navigate
-whatever vehicle, from ship to plane.

So, knew the islands,
-two of them side by side
-called them "Tonbs"; small-large.

In waters of Iran's Persian Gulf.

Had permit to catch fish
-the forms filled thanks to the connections
-and use of corruption, by a well-corrupted
-nephew of President, Rafsanjani
-sister's son named Kazem, who was helped
-by the man, who held key to Shilat
-was in charge of fishing, and sea-life.

Akbarof was only one of such
-who held keys, were in charge
-to corrupt safes, papers,
-decisions and judgments
-inside and outside courts.
-All of them bowed, praised
-did not want and could not
-say no, cause rejection.
-These Robots have never resisted.

Guilt in me was like worm
-underneath my skin lived, crawled.

I had my companies in Dubai
-and other Emirates, "Private."

Therefore, was led to get involved
-with Greeks and Russians, Cypriots
-in waters of Iran, Persian Gulf.

Possibly by need or by greed
-or something deep inside
-called "Pride" (possibly)
-or foolish in belief
-of us, all, being equal
-low and high
-connected to power, and, or not…

Whatever…
-was engulfed by fire
-but being a poet
-connected with nature
-motionless saw fishes dancing, play
-any kind, anytime, anywhere …

In wonder saw water splash in the air
-as if was a fountain pushing up to vapour
-had no doubt and felt sure "is a whale"
-but had to keep my mouth shut
- "Whale and in Persian Gulf? "

An expert in trips was in doubt
-I was not being a marine
-suspected to be right, was afraid.

Had read of the dolphins
-funeral, burying of their dead
-in mass and whining…

Had seen the marvel of a tortoise
-by cliffs and near Chah-Bahar
-was huge Volkswagen, a Beetle.

Had read books that talked of
-pilgrimage to Mecca
-and pirates and the whales
-and bribing the whale, to calm by
-throwing passenger in water
-to feed and…

But being child of time
-the time of oil; D'Arcy
-time of jets and space
-the old talks sounded vain
-therefore, I held silence.

Persian Gulf having whale?

Sun stood in distance
-but sent its messengers
-golden and silver rays
-to water to date, mate
-on mattress spread
-with surface of the sea as bedsheet
-vast sky in rays, lights, blanket.

Wide open and endless
-seemed water,
-which I loved; adored her.

I found it firm it and soft, colourful
-bearing the toughness of a kingdom
-too deep in history, Xerxes and Cyrus.

Our two ships shared their nets
-at skirts, had frills, hung the weights
-deep trawl was tilling the seabed
-bulldozing, uprooting hard and soft.

It was mean and cruel
-I was told and informed,
- (later … on…)

Guilt in me has remained like a worm
-underneath my skin lives, crawls.

Some of fish have dined and have grown
-on corpses of fishers and pirates, criminals
-as well as displaced or tourists wanting fun
-among them passengers, Iran Air's
-the plane shot by Devil a "U. S. navy ship, "

Fisher men were wearing orange suits
-of rubber, black and grey boots
-or Galosh

Each vessel had record, kept by young
-the catch was counted, weigh, registered…
-by a young "Observer", not I, nor Andrei.

Though we were partners …
-we were far different with own way.

For the time, while on the sea
-lived in a small and dingy ship,
-my thoughts were Dubai and Iran, USA
-my workers, companies registered
-and life of family…

Nothing went as should have or planned
-long is the book of bars, like Scheherazade
-I in the prisons, lost time, fame, capital
-my losses are many, include a loving family
-the worst life is being nailed inside…
-album is very large, in head and in my chest
-with photos, colourful, painful thoughts.