I Was Born In Heaven Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

I was born in Heaven

Many, many years I waited to declare:
“Ay…people, I was born in Heaven.”
Never dared… I needed documents.

Now, walk tall, chest forward, I am proud, loudly shout:
“Ancestors Zoroastrians- in old days, how I wish I was too.
They believed in judgement on Chinvat; a beam-shaped bridge.
It sieves, separates good living from the dead, as are the wasted souls.
Bridge-guards are two dogs; both four-eyed; after death every soul must cross.
Guilty falls in the hell and fire, pass the good, innocent… we crossed, I am proud.

Ancestors had to run
On their backs their belong
Tough mountains preserved the pride
Dignity, faith, and God (Ahoura, our Mazda) .
They escaped surrender to Tazis; ‘Persian for Arabs’.

Those behind face cruel treatment,
Example Yazidi and ISIS
Sold Kaniz and used maids
Victims of the lust filled invaders
All females would be raped unless learn
Play games like Sheherzade, pretend or convert.

From then ancestors happily celebrate
Crossing the mountains and Chinvat
“We have walked Fara Chinvat.”
Time changed it, to: “Feshark”.
Then further: …”Fesharak”.

Since no one passes over bridge Chinvat
Unless good, accepted by heaven
I was born in Heaven.

I do not care to face the changes of dialects,
Chinwad, Cinvat, Chinvar or Chinavat.

The concept of Sirāt is copy of Chinvat
(Arabic word for Path, and Islam’s.)