By The Axe Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

By the axe

Learned a lot, in Khojand
- (For a time, Lenin-Abad.)

The rivers and the lands
-of Oxus area…
-everywhere, all around
-entire waterdrops
-are made of the blood
-of peace-war, hate and love.

Stories have amassed
-far beyond lands' flags
-and the names of heroes,
-oppressors and martyrs.

That is where the Turan
-bordered with, then Iran.

That is where the borders
-changed as does a wind, wave.

Nobody could ever
-say: "You, I" separate.

That is where blood is,
-in each and all bodies,
-mixed from the wedding
-and somehow openly;
-or by love, secretly,
-or by rape, shamelessly.

There, I learned endlessly.

I had read Koran of
-Iran and master of
-literature, poetry
- (that speaks history,
-factual and mythic,)
-organised, edited
-by great Ferdowsi
- (as Homer's Odyssey.)

Many names are involved
-beyond page of my mind.

I selected few and pinned on
-some markers; technically
-Siavash and his deeds…

He is who, like Abram
-is told to walk, cross
-the flames if is right!
-He became centre of
-my reading and research…

And I read, and I read
-and many were questions,
-for which needed answers.

"The borders and our faith
-are enforced by axes…"
-said to me a poet.

Siavash rejected his father's:
- "Go and fight to the end…
-want Turkish blood shed…
-all the way to the end! "

I followed him, his wives
- (Two great daughters of
-old P.M., Turks' Shah's
- "Princess Farangis.")

And always, in my mind
-axe of time hit and carved
-history…then to now…

The Axe of Turk and Fars…
The Axe of Faith-Islam…
The Axe of Genghis Khan…
The Axe of the Tsar…
The Axe of Soviet Red Star…
The Axe of Gorbachev…
The Axe of Washington…