Pledge Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Pledge

That day I, a young child
In range of four to five
Took an oath with a vow.

Will never and shall not
Forget it; yes, I must…

We lived in the village
As kid worked with parents.

"Children must always
Learn, to be good parents."

Boys mimicked their fathers
And the girls, their mothers…

I was no exception…

Peoples' wealth in village
Come from their sweat,
Of farming, harvesting…

Part of boys' duty
In summer, was taking
Care of the goats, and sheep
Kept at home for their milk.

It was kids' training,
Amusement and learning.

Boys took them to graze
Right near the houses
Girls became masters in
Making dairies, yogurt.

I was no exception…

Many years are gone by,
Forgetting? I cannot,
Thought I do not recall
Number of animals.

Tellez was the hill's name
On which had, my parents
Built great-love-palace.

Still, parts of the mount
Had remained bare, natural...

Right after a sharp fall
Hill ended in what was
Aptly named based on its
Older days': "The River."

Valley was divided
But hardly subsided.

The people were aware:
"This belongs to the X."

Village had "Dashtban"
While "Dasht" meant farm
The "Ban" was policing.

I, as child, was vase of
A man's games, hopes, dreams
Of having successful future,
So, practiced, played
With marbles and the earth…

Possibly made a farm
Or, maybe, a large house.

In my thoughts and tired
I laid down, then dreamt.

Do not know for how long
Had slept, animals
Were absent, all were gone.

Embarrassed and afraid
Had no way to return
To home and to parents:
"I slept, have lost them."


Had been raised a Muslim
And heard of many saints,
Ablest was Hussein
That could do miracles.

Good part of religion
Is doing business…

You pay or undertake
And the saints come to help.

With Imam, I did same:
"Please help me find them."

Sure, was an oblation,
How much? What?
Forgot them!

I know, then set price,
But never was obliged…

Of then, those memories
I feel shame of failing,
I am out but in me
They stay till I live…

Dad also went and searched,
He, too, failed to find them!

Told us farms' guardian:
"They are in prison…"

All of goats, also lambs
Acted as does the man.

Few cheating mankind,
Tricksters holding arms
Come to an agreement:
"It is ‘Law' must obey."

Crime of the local animals:
"Invaded…broke laws…"

From then seed of doubt
Found place in my heart.

I questioned believing
In Allah, God, and laws.

I grew with the time,
Went around, saw a lot
From roads, seas, flights.

Tellez and Fesharak,
Isfahan and Iran
In me are few dots.

Now, I live near pole
Where melted glaciers,
Homeless are polar bears,
Randomly see seals, whales.

Feel my goats and my lambs
In locals of these lands.

No matter what the name,
Inuit, Cree, or Ojibwa,
With the names given by
The so-called "Law Setters: "
"Eskimos, savages…"

"They are in prison…"
As man told my father.

I recall my goats, lambs
When I see men, women
On sides of "Forty-Nine"
As border, "International! "

I convict the why, who
Of raising such a wall,
"USA…Canada…! "

Let me shout and out loud:
"The hell with all these laws."