Flying

Last night at a going away party i was asked to write a poem for the occasion.  i have never written on demand except for school and was not sure if i would be in the right frame of mind. Ben and Susan Hansen have been friends for decades now and their daughter Miranda is about to go on a Baha'i year of service.  She will be going to a school in Central America and teaching and working till next May.  This is something done by many of the youth prior to their starting college.  Aniela put me on the spot last night (thanks Aniela....just kidding), and while everyone was playing Taboo, a board game, i wrote the poem that follows.  

It reminded me to a small degree of a similar situation that happened to my grandfather early in the last century.  He was invited to a meeting which turned out to be a "set up" of sorts.  He was there to present the Baha'i Faith but instead was confronted with a large gathering with the purpose of confronting the Faith.  Iran in those days, as it is now, was a dangerous place to teach the Baha'i Faith.  There was a renouned poet of Kashan who wrote a poem of challenge to the famous Baha'i poet Na'im.  Some half hour of music followed that poem in which my grandfather decided to respond to the poet.  After a half hour of music my grandfather showed the poem to his friend who proceded to read the poem aloud.  The poem was far superior to the one read earlier.  The gathering was stunned that my grandfather was able to respond so effectively in half an hour to a poem that took six months to write.  There is more to this story that would astound you but not relevent to the evening in mind.  i have the story written up in his words if anyone is interested.

i was able to present Miranda with the poem and was so happy to see that both mother and daughter liked it.  Susan asked "what about the father?"  While this poem is directly written for Miranda it is for all parents who say goodbye to their children as they fly off for the first time.  i mention the mother for two reasons, the first being that the mother is the primary care giver in most cases of the child and the image of the baby and mother in the animal world is always prevelant.  The second reason is much simpler; Susan is taking Miranda to her new home for the next 8 months and hence will be the last string cut from from home.

Here is the poem, "Flying"

Way upon the tree so high
The baby bird about to fly
Nurtured by mother so dear
Side by side they walked so near

The unknown calls
The oldest on
The first to fly
Of the little ones

Looking up at mother
In thoughts of wonder
Knowing that, not long ago
She had flown on her own

Surrounded by love
She walked to edge
Knowing that with mothers pledge
Never alone would she be
However far she may be

Stepping off she starts to fall
With winds spread out
Mother’s encouragement calls
She starts to climb and fly so high
The joy the thrill, the fear is lost

One last look at mother so proud
With tears of joy her call is loud
She turns and heads to parts unknown
The knowledge to all
That she is grown

As she flies away now alone
She knows there will
Always be a home
To return to…
shiidon, July 2007

For Aram

(See previous two posting)

Aram

Treading the well worn path of service
The youth followed those before
He walked unswerving
Dedicated to his core

Rain, shine, pain and joy
Left no mark on that blessed soul
For in another realm did he dwell
One which took no toll

A line did he cross
Into the sea of light
For him did arrive
A world of delight

For those left behind
He but disappeared that night
Into our future when we reunite.
shiidon July, 2007

For Mandi

Mandi

Through the dark soil of love
The flower grew
Through draught and flood
The lessons of life
Strengthened her soul

The flower grew strong
The beauty shining
The hopes and drive
A silver lining

To all around
Laughter and joy
Always inspiring
To her little boy

We began to learn
Her hopes and dreams
The desire to learn
From the stream
of knowledge

For reasons unknown
Leaving all in wonder
The flower so strong
taken by the Gardner

In the clouds above
Hand in hand and in love
The farmer and his wife
Holding their flower so tight
They turn with a smile
Letting us know all is right

We love you
Shiidon July, 2007

Untimely Passings

Events have happened in the last couple of weeks that have brought me to write about them.

Two weeks ago a young lady, Mandi Boswell, died while riding her bike to the community college.  She was 25 and left a six year old sone behind.  The Hutchcraft family, of whome she was a member of, and a family by the name of Leonard were Baha'i pioneers together in the Bahamas during the 70's.  i informed Cindy (leondard) Adlparvar of Mandi's untimely death and she and her father sent their condolences.  In fact Ruth, Mandi's aunt informed me that Bob Leonard had some kind words and quotes that were helpful to share.

Last week i found out that Cindy and Payam's younger son, Aram Adlparvar (age 21), died in a car accident in Rhode Island.  i found myself having to send an email the other way informing the extended Hutchraft family of the passing of this young man.  In addition to this, my cousin Ramin and his family live in the same Baha'i community as the Adlparvar's, Lake Forest California.

These two deaths, one after the other were overwhelming and hard to comprehend.  In talking to Cindy i found myself crying and yet it was her consoling me over the death of her son.  This seems to be the main mission for Payam and Cindy, consoling others over the loss of the child.

i wrote a poem for each of them and will have them in the next posting.