Today I Light a Candle

Today I light a candle. Today I light a candle in silence but with many tears. I hold my breath as I think of the sisters and brothers around the world. All our brothers and sisters, all who carry the same light in their hearts and all who have the same color blood. All

Today I remember all those who have died without a grave, but are not nameless, I remember all those in tents seeking real shelter for their souls. Today I remember the olive branch and the white dove.

Today our dear Simin Behbahani, a great poet of Iran passed away, she was a woman of the world, twice dedicated for the Noble Peace Prize. Her poetry bridged generations, cultures and lives.

I sit and read a poem and I hope for the white dove to be alive and in flight and for the black mourners to be able to seek white in the coming days.

InLight I sit with breath.

Bahareh

 

Poem from Simin Behbahani

“Gracefully she approached”

 

Gracefully she approached,

in a dress of bright blue silk;

With an olive branch in her hand,

and many tales of sorrows in her eyes.

Running to her, I greeted her,

and took her hand in mine:

Pulses could still be felt in her veins;

warm was still her body with life.

 

“But you are dead, mother”, I said;

“Oh, many years ago you died!”

Neither of embalmment she smelled,

Nor in a shroud was she wrapped.

 

I gave a glance at the olive branch;

she held it out to me,

And said with a smile,

“It is the sign of peace; take it.”

 

I took it from her and said,

“Yes, it is the sign of…”, when

My voice and peace were broken

by the violent arrival of a horseman.

He carried a dagger under his tunic

with which he shaped the olive branch

Into a rod and looking at it

he said to himself:

“Not too bad a cane

for punishing the sinners!”

A real image of a hellish pain!

Then, to hide the rod,

He opened his saddlebag.

in there, O God!

I saw a dead dove, with a string tied

round its broken neck.

 

My mother walked away with anger and sorrow;

my eyes followed her;

Like the mourners she wore

a dress of black silk.

 

*Picture with many candles compliments of Hanan Debwania