A Sheikh ventured to the British lands so grand,
In Iran’s realm, he was a leading hand.
Sought to rid his soul of pain and strife,
To cleanse the woes that tainted life.
One son he had, residing in London town,
Kind-hearted, loyal, without a frown.
When the plane touched down upon the land,
His dear son greeted him, oh so grand.
As the Sheikh surveyed that foreign place,
Inward battled, his heart with grace.
Said he, “This differs from the kingdom of Ray,
Once in a while, I might, my son, stay.”
Tired was he of rumors and tales of Ray,
Sights in view, and omens near to sway.
With utmost respect, the Sheikh was led,
To his son’s abode, to rest his head.
Once his garments were shed, his mood turned grim,
An unease seemed to settle upon him.
With a frown drawn tight and a solemn sigh,
He asked his son, gazing with a weary eye:
“What is this bird within the cage you keep?
How does it draw its breath, awake not asleep?”
Free the poor creature, let it soar!
Bring peace to its spirit, forevermore.
Else, my forgiveness shall not be found,
Or repent sincerely, deep and profound.
Said the son, dear dad, my heart’s delight,
Your worry clouds with tremorous sight.
But this parrot, trapped though it may be,
Its soul intertwined with that of me.
Zibel is this parrot’s name I adore,
More cherished than my heart ever swore.
To keep me company in loneliness,
From the land of Ray, with aching bless.
The Sheikh replied to his respectful child,
“Can you not tell good from the defiled?”
“Imagine yourself in Zibel’s place,
And upon your actions, turn your face.”
“Sit a while, and let from deep within,
Hear its tales of sorrow akin.”
“Listen to the reed as it complains,
Of separation it explains.”
“Hand me the key of the caged chest,
So the parrot might find joy in my quest.”
“My own wellness will be its song of joy,
To return the doleful bird to its ploy.”
“I will grant it fresh life anew,
In nature’s cradle, its songsticks flew.”
“When I set foot back in Ray’s hold,
I shall open wide the cage and unfold.”
“Now you’ve seen your father’s point laid bare,
Behold now the prowess of the offspring’s dare.”
“Ask the parrot, let it speak its heart,
Only then can you claim that you’re smart.”
“For here, democracy’s roots do spring,
Wiser than emotional tethering.”
“Suppose once grandma’s word was made,
When she consented to wed’s parade.”
“Bless the soul that from this world did part,
Eaten by earth’s termites, torn apart.”
“In Iran, rewriting destined fate anew,
A fresh beginning is what we pursue.”
“My parrot of noble nature may wish hell,
Or heaven’s embrace, truth’s tell.”
“For the heaven of force and hell is same,
Where’s compulsion in faith’s frame?”
“Aye parrot, open your mouth now wide,
Reflect your will, with no secrets to hide.”
Said the parrot, “This cage is my dwelling,
A place where my dreams swell in telling.”
“My spirit has become one with this cage,
Named for my homeland at every stage.”
“Parrots here bear such a treat,
Content of their cage, humanity replete.”
“For years, this cage has been my place,
While those bars contain a nation’s trace.”
“Save for a million lost in wealth’s tide,
The rest are trapped within its wide.”
“I love this cage with yearning grace,
While the other cage brings breath’s embrace.”
“I have smelt Iran’s land before, I say,
But with this cage, accustomed I stay.”
“To soar amidst lies in smoke’s embrace,
Would remove the glimmer from eye’s trace.”
“Flying through the sky, my homeland’s flight,
Endangers body and soul’s right.”
“Fear grips me as if fated to meet Neda’s plight,
A hidden shot may yet take my life.”
“Dread, that my life to end may come,
This, you surely know, beyond some.”
“Death is served there to men in line,
Murder, like clockwork, intertwined.”
“A crowd meanders with bare hands stark,
Their share, the spoils of loan sharks.”
“Tables laid with oil’s tang in streets,
Only its scent our palate meets.”
“Content here with mere barley bread,
So as not to dwell in Evin’s dread.”
“Before Evin’s blooming had begun,
Many tales of the new city’s run.”
“Destined to witness light explosion bright,
Patience, in the Lord’s eyes, a worthy sight.”
Or else, keep tightlipped through pain,
Or let fate’s sorrow draw disdain.”
“Beyond the clap for applause song,
The next day brings that clapping along.”
“No kind favor returns to us,
Life in Iran is scandalous.”
“The capital of glass, crack, and dread,
People grumpy, sad, lives hang thread.”
“We sink deeper in a mire so vast,
While divorce rates climb so fast.”
“As long as salt spews from Qum’s sea vast,
Who needs atom bombs from the past?”
“As justice spreads ‘cross the earth’s land,
Lawless chaos took its stand.”
“One man drunk with wild despair,
Women burdened by loss of care.”
“Water bills, power costs, soul’s expense,
Rewards from victory immense.”
“Our fortune found in a well’s depth,
Your likeness adorned the moon’s breadth.”
“Please God, spare this world your wrath,
Quickly rise from God’s aftermath.”
“Your frivolous babble, unclear and aloof,
Lest break the climb, your pious roof.”
“For here, contented I remain,
Should the Sheikh permit, I abstain.”