Biablo

I waited to post the previous poem until I had something a bit more uplifting to post.  The news reached me recently that my lifelong friend Bita was to be married.  The fact that she was to marry a dear friend Pablo was almost too much to handle.  I was so happy when I heard the news for what I saw was a match that with all certainty was meant to be.

Biablo

Walking along the path so long

The unique one traveled

Searching for the one

 with whom to belong

 

Along this path she tread

Many a heart to joy she led

Love from her would surround

All of those around

With her joy of life abound

 

The humble one served and cared

Searching for the one

With whom life

Is to be shared

 

To young and old

 he doth give

Serving and giving

His purpose to live

 

Perchance it happened one day

That the humble and unique met

Their paths crossing on their way

Their future together set

 

It was clear for all to see

That these two were meant to be

For the love that shows

Cannot help but grow

 from a soil rich with love

For the Almighty above

A mighty tree will rise

With this love of two

 it doth comprise

              -Shiidon, August 2008

Tempest

Tempest

Listening to the cries

Wondering why

We come back in a circle

Hoping again to try

 

When everything comes down

Under which we fear to drown

Calamities abound

Completely us surround

 

In the midst of all the pain

Which upon us doth rain

We remember to whom to turn

Where others are want to spurn

And reach out on our part

And speak out from our heart

And ask for Him to guide

Us to the other side

 

The tempests lose their sway

And their impact falls away

With hope we look ahead

To a more calm day instead

Through these storms we sail

To drown us they fail

Guided by the light above

And the certainty of His love

-Shiidon, August 2008

This poem comes from lots of places.  A week ago a dear friend was consoling me over my painful nasal polyps and almost certain surgery.  I felt so bad as she was getting ready to go to Mexico for life saving cancer therapy.  Its all perspective.  She called me today and asked how Shahdi was doing, who was hospitalized this last Wednesday due to a relapse from what happened just before I was able to get custody of her.  She is and will be fine.  I am learning what to look for to be able to be of help to her.  I also have been able to overcome the completely blocked nasal passages and the lethargy they breed.  I have had heart to heart talks with Shahdi, Shervin, Winrik, John, Travis and others that come to the house often.  I was able to address some issues that had arisen and was able to redirect their energies and attention.

Enough of me.  There are some other things that have reminded me of tests and tempests.  The continued persecution of the Bahá'í's in Iran is a reminder that there are others who are in jail and under harsh conditions for nothing other than believing in the unity of mankind and the oneness of humanity.  I heard news that there were three Bahá'í's in an Arab country who are possibly to be deported to Iran for the "crime" of being a Bahá'í.  They have been productive and law abiding members of their community for over 25 years and now they are facing deportation and an uncertain future at the hands of a government that is determined to eradicate all Bahá'í's.  I have finished the last of the grades for my class.  I now must wait until the next term starts before I can be rewarded with teaching again and teaching those dear souls in Iran.

With this all said, I feel upbeat and positive about how things are progressing and know that things will work out as they always do.  

Doors

DOORS

I do not know
In what way You show
When direction we ask
Before you, laying this task

We go through life
Asking for doors to open
Through which we may find
Our Joys or hearts broken

Forgetting at times
That we asked for direction
And after reflection
We take steps
Towards acceptance or rejection

Can we have the strength
And to what length
Will we go
To follow the course
That You doth show
And the end of which
We do not know

And then it occurred
Within us it stirred
It comes to one word
.............Faith
-Shiidon, August 2008

This poem came to me after a long and fruitful day. The magic of hearts connecting can be so powerful. A customer came yesterday to our shop and, after knowing I was a Bahá'í, asked if I knew about religion prior to Zoroaster. This evening, when she came to pick up her car, we spoke for over two hours about religion, connections and much about the Bahá'í Faith of which is dear to my heart. Later in the evening I had a wonderful chat with a dear friend about asking God for doors to open and whether or not we are truly relying on God when choices present themselves to us. This poem rose out of the day and I share it here with you.

On another note, Shervin returned Sunday and brought peace of mind to me. I am overjoyed to have him back and realize how much I miss him. It is for a brief time as he will be driving very soon and then it will be a rare occasion when I see him as he goes to school, work and spends time with his friends. I will share more photos or at least find out where they are so that those of you who are interested can look them up.

Catherine Gent

When I moved to Austin in the mid 80's I never knew the many spiritual giants I would learn to know and grow from. One dear soul was Chris Gent. He was a World War II veteran. He was partially responsible for the building of the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M University, which for an Aggie like me meant a lot. He and I were elected to the Spiritual Assembly of Austin at the same time. I had the bounty of privilege to know him well through the deliberations and consultations of those years together. He was a kind, gentle and loving man. He left this world some time ago in February. Many times since then I would call his dear wife Catherine and remember him with her. She was kind and told me how much Chris loved me and that touched me dearly. In the past few years she left us for Houston and I had no contact save an occasional phone call or letter. Yes, I do write letters from time to time. One time she cut out a flower from a magazine and sent it to me. She mentioned that I should not mention it to others as they might think it strange. However, it was one of the kindest gifts that I could ever have received. I took it on Pilgrimage with me when I went to the Bahá'í World Center. I took it to the Shrines and then upon returning informed her of what I did. I wanted her to know how special that gift was to me. It still rests in my prayer book. It is with a sad heart and some tears that I learned of her passing yesterday. I am sad for my loss and the loss of others but overjoyed by her reunion with Chris. One thing that I always think about when they come to my mind was how Chris would say that they only disagree on one thing in all their lives together, one liked liver and one did not. I am sure that over the years there were different events and different perspectives, what I do appreciate is that I got to know them at a very special time in their lives. I miss them so.

CATHERINE GENT

I hear her voice in my mind
Remember how she was kind
The love she shared
The way she cared

In the waning years
Sometimes laughing
Or in tears
A letter would arrive
With a freshness alive
Back and forth our words would flow
Sometimes a gift she would bestow

A more stately person,
It would be hard to find
Of her beloved husband
It did remind

When I reflect
On her being gone
I think about how much I long
To see her and her love
Both now above

One day my turn, it will be
But for now, I have to see
Them in my mind’s eye
It will be
That clear and lucid memory

I will always remember
No matter how old we are
Or where we go
We can always
Upon others show
Our love and care
And they will grow
From what we know
-Shiidon, August 2008

Aside

Shervin's trip is winding down. He has made land again. He went to Brussels, Bruges and is on his way to Paris today with his grandparents. I made sure he went up the tower in Bruges as it was a prominent spot in the movie "In Bruges." It is a beautiful city. There is a change in my son and I look forward to seeing him this coming Sunday. I wanted to share this photo of him at the helm of the sailboat. Shervin truly found new definitions of friend, family and relative this trip. He has discovered new places and did so on his own without his mother or father present. Most importantly, he has discovered a strength within and the power of prayer.

Family

FAMILY

Like ebb and flow
People come and go
Some come often
Others forgotten
Among those
That visit frequently
Are the ones we call family

The joy that family brings
Doth cause the heart to sing
When love connects each heart
From a common kinship did we start

Exploring anew each connection
Less likely inclined to deflection
More solid bonds give new direction
Less worry given to rejection

Food, fun and laughter
From here to ever after
Joy spreading from one to another
Sister, cousin, mother and brother…

Truth be told
'Tis not just blood that binds
For what we find
Both young and old
Are the ones who cross
The threshold

Husband, wife
Or friend for life
are the ones we share
Our lives with care
Among them all we see
That they are also family
-Shiidon, August 2008

I was speaking with someone recently and mentioned that in my life I have found that being related and being family is two different things. There are people that are closer to me than many who are related to me. People who are married become family. My cousin Ramin is visiting here this week. His wife Brenda is as much a part of my family as her dear husband. One summer while visiting them, it was Brenda that remembered me with a birthday card and a fathers day card. I will never forget this love. I work with someone, Kamran, that is as much a brother to me as my own brothers. He is family. I also think about the phrase often used in my experience as a Bahá'í that describes us all as "one human family." If we truly treated each other as family, there would be a marked difference in this world and indeed, what war could exist, what strife could there be? It is not possible to have such horrors if we treat each other with the love that we find as family.