Together in Heart

TOGETHER IN HEART

I think of you

At morning dew

And in the eve

When I take my leave

 

You once said

No greater pleasure

Could be found

Amongst the treasures

Of Natures blessings abound

 

A book, a blanket,

 a garden, You say

Is the greatest way

To spend the day

 

I remember you

Day and night

When I go

 to my peaceful site

and while upon

my stone I sit

a well earned moment

of respite

thoughts of times

not long ago

of the great wisdom

to me you did show

 

Can I truly say

That I am alone

On any given day?

Nay

For we carry those,

Whom we love

Whether here amongst us

Or with Him above

And converse together

In our hearts

Many a topic,

Broken into parts

And one by one we talk them through

Sometimes many

And sometimes few

And often we sit side by side

Meditating in silence

In love abide

 

Though for now

We are far apart

Ti's the way we speak

Connected by

The language of the heart

 

As time races by

Year by year

Those whom we love

Grow more dear

And towards ourselves

We draw them near

 

Many a soul doth walk with me

And through mine eye

We doth see

The beauty that

surroundeth me

 

So dear friend

In a way

I bring you with me

Every day

And we both bask together

In the suns rays

-Shiidon, Jamál 166BE, May 2009

I have mentioned in a previous post about reading my poetry at a Holy Day event.  One person said how surprised he was as he did not know I wrote poetry.  He said that I had taken Mr. Moshref's poems and translated them.  I was honored that he would have said so.  Mr. Moshref is a dear and beloved member of the Bahá'í community in the Austin Cluster.  I have not spoken with him in some time and miss that.  I was truly honored that someone would even put me in the same sentence with Mr. Moshref.

It is actually Mr. Moshref that is the inspiration for this particular poem.  We have spent hours discussing poetry, the Bahá'í history and writings and other various things.  He interpreted many of my dreams and helped me understand much about myself.  He is a wise and deep man.  I recall him telling me that he has a collections of his poems and the "very first one" he said is about me.  I have never seen it nor would I be able to read it as my Persian is weak when it comes to writing and in verse I would be completely lost, so it remains a mystery to me.  When speaking together he would recall the great poets of Iran describing a blanket, a book and sitting outside enjoying life.  That came to me as I thought of him and that description while by the creek.  I pulled out my mole skin book and started writing as the wind raced through the trees and rustled the new born green leaves sounding almost like the surf at the beach.

One thing about Mr. Moshref that has always been dear to me is that he reminds me so much of the early history of the Bahá'í Faith.  It is partially that he is so knowledgeable, it is also partially that he was alive, along with my parents, at a time when Bahá'u'lláhs beloved daughter was still alive on this Earth.  Our elders are so blessed to have witnessed so much history.  TV, computers etc. that we all take for granted were not in existence in any viable form during the early years of their lives.

Speaking of the Bahá'í Faith and Iran.  I just finished grading more papers for students in Iran who are not permitted to attend any university in their own homeland.  Recent events have seen the injustices that can prevail in a land both full of rich history and again active repression.  A year ago seven members of the Bahá'í community in Iran were arrested and jailed for a varied number of ever changing charges.

Their single most reprehensible crime is to be Bahá'í.  I ask this of you.  If you have read my poems and prose, you can get the picture of at least how one Bahá'í views the world and life. However poor my writing may be or inadequate and error prone my comments can be, does it justify my imprisonment without trial?  Those dear ones in prison are not just my brothers and sisters but yours as well.  One of my students last term had a father in prison and another was late on her work because the government broke into their house and confiscated their books and computers.

We are humanity.  Injustice is rampant and we must all stand up for what is right and just.  Right now in the United States Congress are two bills condemning the actions of the Iranian government in keeping these dear friends in jail without even being able to see their lawyer.  If you live in the United States, write your congressman and senator, either way keep them in your prayers.  More information can be found on www.bahai.org