Bahar Khadem

BAHAR KHADEM

I sat and watched

That fateful night

When I last saw you

In my sight

I did not know

How soon you’d go

Or how that moment

Would stay with me

That night you were set free

With radiance, you did glow

T’was of the spirit, for sure

But upon your visage did show

A beauty, I doth rarely know

Surrounded where you by love

Both here

And from those above

Between two worlds

You were that night

I will never forget that sight

One could say

The love given you

Both night and day

Is an example of

A life well lived

But I say tis more

That you did give

You’ve left behind

Four souls and more

For us to remind

For us to see

Your legacy

These dear souls devout

Doth live and give

The world throughout

They shower kindness

Upon all

Of your lessons

I’m sure they recall

What words can express

My thanks to you

For all the kindness and service

You did do

You are now at peace

And though the pain

Through absence increase

Love and prayers for you

Will never cease

You are loved

-Shiidon, December 2010

A little background. I skipped two grades, went to three high schools and by the time I graduated went to eleven schools. This does not speak for stability. Amin is the longest friendship I have had, from age 3 to now. His mother is one of the first people I remember and his uncle is one of my dearest friends and the person I work for. This poem is about his grandmother and the mother of Kamran and Jila. She was a kind soul. She would come to visit and would always go out of the way to thank me for my friendship with Kamran. She would always say how I was like a son to her and how happy she was that we worked together, like two brothers.

As she aged the last year or so I did not get to see her much if at all. I would always ask Kamran how she was and to give her a kiss for me. This last week Kamran started to spend all day with her while I ran the shop. I remember driving home from a meeting and thinking about seeing her. Kamran said to not worry, however, I found that I could not drive home without being there. I went to the home and spent time with the family prayer for her and visiting while she lay in bed on what was to be her final nights on this earth. I went again the next night. This was to be her last night with us in this world. I remember kissing her forehead and speaking to her ear before leaving for the last time.

What words can describe what I experienced. I looked upon the face of a person well nigh 90 years old. yet all I saw was a radiant and beautiful being. A soul at peace and one that was ready to go. Her beloved children and family spoke to her, prayed to her and did all they could to ease her passing to the next world. It seemed however, that the glow we saw in her was almost a symbol of her already being on the way to that next plain of life. This family is my family. This loss was my loss as well. The love that I witnessed was one that I will not forget.

The funeral was this past Sunday. It was well attended and the memorial was a joyous celebration of her life. While we wept tears of separation, one could not but help know that she was now at peace and praying for our souls to progress just as we pray for hers.

Shores of Beauty

SHORES OF BEAUTY

I stand on the shore

Watching as the boats leave

And are no more

I look around

And find myself alone

In solitude

I head home

On and on I wait

Standing still

Anticipating fate

As the hour

Doth grow late

Which path must I tread

Following the familiar

Or the unknown instead

I contemplate

What lies ahead

It seems life around me

Has marched on

And many an opportunity

Slipped by, or gone

It seems all the waiting

For direction is, in vain

Bringing disappointment

As prevalent as

Drops of rain

I could chase the stars and wind

But in truth

I must look within

To be at peace within

Is the place

Where I begin

And my fears to face

What is it

That is expected of me

And where, with whom and how

Should I be

All around

I have found

Others reaching

Their destiny

Step by step

Forward I go

Into the unknown

And certainly through this

I will grow

I head to shore

The horizon I spy

And without

Quite knowing why

I paddle away

Towards a new day

And onto, I know not where

But of this, I am aware

Of this world and its beauty

I truly do care J

-Shiidon, December, 2010

This poem has been bouncing around for some time. It was started last night when John and Jacob came by and visited with me briefly. It was special as I was able to catch up with what was happening with the gang of kids that were here until this past summer. I was both sad and happy, but either way proud that they were moving to Denton and getting an apartment together. It is the start of a new journey for them. It was then that the thought came to me that I was standing on the beach watching these boats leave to who knows where and to face what kind of storms and adventures no one can guess.

I am proud of my now adult children and these young adults that are like son's to me. I will always be grateful for the few years that we had together. It was worth all that it took to keep things going around them as they were learning how to fly from the nest. Now they are flying into the winds of life. Vaya con Dios.

This picture is at John's graduation from High School.

Anisa and Johnny

ANISA AND JOHNNY

The princess waited patiently

For the prince to come

With whom she was meant to be

For years she prepared

For life to come

A great educator she has become

The peace within

Ever growing

As if she knew

With whom through life

She’d be growing

The love she spread

To those around

Is never by a barrier bound

**************************

And then it happened

One fateful day

Her prince came

And swept her away

He matched her care

With kindness and love

Clearly directed from above

Together they march

To a common beat

Within each other

Life is complete

-Shiidon, November 2010

The wedding I mentioned in the previous post was my cousin Ramin and his dear wife Brenda's first child's (getting married). It was so wonderful seeing everyone. We had a prolonged event with most of the family being together for Thanksgiving and then the wedding. The wedding was on the lake with the lake in the background. It was so wonderful. I was MC for the wedding as we do not have any formal service or clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. The entire event was fabulous and it was great to see so many people happy and joyful. Johnny and his friends rehearsed tirelessly for what was to be a very nice surprise. You have heard of flashmob's. Well, they broke out into a "flashdance" in the middle of the dancing. A fake fight led to a choreographed dance to Micheal Jackson with Johnny wearing a Micheal Jackson jacket.

I was so overjoyed to see such a dear and compassionate soul get married to such a dear and special man. Anisa, her parents and siblings have been such a profound part of my life. Over the years they have been a source of love and in many cases the only source of affection that I have experienced.

Fifty Years of Service

FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE

T’was fifty year ago
These two first
Did each other know
And from distant lands
They chose to join hands
And together did they grow

Three souls they brought this earth
Raising them in value
Teaching true worth

Countless souls the world around
Have come to know
Their love abound

The legacy they leave behind
Is unconditional love
And of the higher nature remind

The love from others
Is beyond description
The attitude of gratitude
With no restriction

To grow in their shadow
Is no small task
Though within their love
I do bask

Their dedication and sacrifice
To mankind
Are deeds not words
Through their actions we find
-Shiidon, November 2010

A lot has happened since my last post. I went to California to visit family and attend a wedding for the first of my cousin Ramin's kids, Anisa. The wedding was held on the weekend after Thanksgiving so there were lots of relatives and we were all able to share with each other and celebrate. It was one of these celebrations that inspired this poem. My parents were married 50 years ago in October. We had a special recognition for them on Thanksgiving day. Ashkan put a video together with photos taken from my Facebook page and included a couple of candid statements from my parents. I wrote this poem that week and it was read then as well.

It was great being able to honor these two precious souls for their milestone of 50 years of marriage. To see the love that surrounded them was profound and beautiful. I was so happy that they were shown so much love.