Pilgrims Poem by Nassy Fesharaki
Pilgrims
Pilgrims
We
The kids sat in row like the chairs
Butts on roof; legs hanging next to wall
Our hands were telescopes at our eyes
We shouted:
Doulaghi and it meant rising dust.
In distant we could see wind in sun.
They’re comin-they’re comin
We shouted
Shouted loud; very loud
We tried our loudest
Unaware who they were and what with
We could guess; pilgrims with a truck
Our means of transport was donkey or on foot
And truck was random
People worked in the farms
Movement was limited to village; going around
To get wood
Went further to plains, to mountains or such sites
We knew this one was from the town
They’re comin, they’re comin
Was so loud that village was informed
A man came on the hill near us
He looked at where we’d done
Doulaghi, doulaghi
We shouted, pointing left to right
(And we showed)
Frankly
It was fun
We were right
The truck appeared
It was coming, honing in
The young man and others made a team
Like pilgrims of Mecca and Ganga
(Their scared now the truck)
We
The kids left the roof and the wall of Kahgel
Joined the team in waiting for Zavvars
We were sure there’d be gifts
Clay whistles, Moosh Khorma
For elders rosaries and the Mohr
As always, welcome-team and truck encountered
Rendezvoused next to hill
The hill named Kopichi Kera
(Whose is this?)
Then poems and the songs of welcome
CHAVOSHI
We had fun
And counted the moments
(We’d be called)
This is yours
Then after we would run with whistles
Clays-Whistles too smaller with mouthpiece and a hole for the sound
Looked like vase.
We would blow and make noise
Like Scotts
(Blowing in bag-pipe)
It is singing and song but in the older style, mainly for the pilgrims when going to or coming from their pilgrimage and/or for the weddings, when accompanying the bride and grooms to their new home.
Clay whistle
These clay whistles were vase-shaped and delicately handmade (In a real miniature size) . They had a mouthpiece with a hole on its upper side and we made noise (Music) by blowing in them. They were the gifts or souvenirs for the kids (Close and relative ones)
Doulaghi
The dust created by the travelers (Caravans and vehicles) that rise and ends in the air. This word is rarely used and is a part of the dialect, which we spoke in our village, Fesharak, near Esfahan.
Kahgel
Kah-hay; Gel=mud. A relatively soft, mild and liquid mixture of the two was used as cover as is the plaster to isolate the walls and the roof (Even the ceilings) that was for temperature control; both during the hot season and the cold.
Mohr
Shiites pray, resting their foreheads on a block of mud (Preferably from the dust of the respected saints) . This had at least two benefits (Preventing the forehead from touching the ground which could possibly be unclean and remind the praying person of the saints and holiness.
Moosh Khorma
Moosh=mouse, khorma=dates (The tasty and energy-filled fruit) . Moosh-khorma was a mouse-like case made of palm leaves, filled with dates. It was a souvenir from Karbala brought for good children.
Rosaries
It is not only Christianity that uses rosaries for praying. Muslims too use it to mention the name of Allah and...This was mainly a pilgrim’s souvenir for the grownups.
Whose is this?
Humankind has given name to whatever seen, felt and/or touched (Even imaginary ones) . There was a small hill at the entrance of our village (Fesharak) named Kopichi-Kera=whose hill? That was the place where the pilgrims got off the vehicle and walked home. The welcomers would usually lead them and/or follow them chanting songs and reciting poems (Chavoshi) , praising God and...
Zavvars
It means the pilgrims who go to or come back from visiting sacred shrines.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/17/2024 4:08:11 AM # 1.0.0.1119
