Literature Gathering-poem read out- Updated

Hi,
I don't know why I should not have written this post long time back (1 year ago), anyways, I wanted to share on my blog about something, which is more like an honor for me. It was the time when one of my English poems (Words of Pearl) whose theme was based on Persian culture was read in a literature gathering in Edmonton, Canada at University of Edmonton, by Mahdi, a member of the literature gathering. He printed out copies of my poem (with my picture :)) and read it out. I mention that it was more an honor because in that gathering, students generally read out poetries of great poets like Farough and Hafez!



(Picture sent by Mahdi! Thanks again!)

I have decided to post the full poem (it was written in English by me in April 2010). This poem was written from imagination and sheer magnetism of the culture my soul was recognizing at that time of my life...

Here is the poem (its technically not published in any anthology yet):

"

Your words of pearl

 

"O! My Prized possession

O! My Persian Pearl

This is you born in Esfahan.

My Pearl of Persia

My half of world.

I am standing in the bazaar in Esfahan

Waiting for you

And I hear your words from afar.

 

Sometimes,

Your words are like

The flavorful Kermani Gaz

Melting in my heart.

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Sweet and scented Zafaran

Imparting colour to my white soul

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Fragrance wafting in spring

Like the Persian rose

Like the Persian lime

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Colors meeting my eyes

When meadow is full

Of daffodils, tulips, iris, hyacinth

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Melody flowing

From Santoor

From sehtar

Like the

Symphony of peace

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Zendeh River flowing

 Through the ragged curves

Of my ear, my body

Reaching my heart

Lying like the Yazd desert

And enlivening it finally.

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Rich embroidery

On my Persian carpet

The magic carpet

From Esfahan.

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Refreshing and pure breeze

Emanating from the Caspian Sea

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Sacred quatrains

Of Hafez Shirazi

 

Or may be

Your words are like the

Chalices of wine

Intoxicating to core

 

Even amidst the clamour

And the labyrinth like paths

Of the Grand bazaar of Isfahan

Your words reach me.

 

The words of

Love on your lips

Are like the sacred fire

Burning since thousands of years

In the holy temple

In Chak Chak

And my lips

Becoming like the

Simorgh bird

When they meet your lips.

 

My Pearl, My prized possession.

We are like the two free

Gay goldfishes,

Going around

And around.

In the same

Glass jar."

 

----Shilpi, 14 April 2010

P.S. I realized that the photo of the part of the poem features a middle name for me, but I should clarify I do not have any middle name, nor is Niloufar (a Persian name of a female meaning blue water lily) my mother's name, as my mother was a Hindu and Indian.. I think it was some confusion as I had originally posted my poem in facebook (which I now don't even use as it's a scam application) with that name using more like a pen name, but its not my name or part of it :))