Past And Present Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Past and present

He carried five shopping bags
Heavy for so many steps
Down was elevator.

In the long hall, corridor
A Chinese
A total stranger
Of his language unaware

Familiar, only Shien-Shien.

Old Chinese spoke mandarin
Tone of his voice clear:

“Let me help.”

The scene was strange
Scent of humanity filled the air
Regardless of skin, race, colour.

He was hesitant
Chinese insisted; succeeded
Grabbed two of the five bags.

Motions talked, eyes bragged
Into his shopping he dipped a hand
Brought out a strawberry pack.

The Chinese did not take
Both smiled: Shien-Shien
A world apart…brothers.

“Such things…”
He thought: “are rare, do not come
with machines, text and computers…”

Then sighed:
“They taught us care and love
Not force of baton, with law…”

And he withdrew in his lonely den.