By: Ghazaleh Hosseini
"بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکرند که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند چو عضوی بهدرد آورد روزگار دگر عضوها را نماند قرار تو کزمحنت دیگران بیغمی نشاید که نامت نهند آدم" - سعدی شیرازی
“Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain.” -Saadi Shirazi
This poem that describes humanity in its rawest version was written by a Persian poet. Schools are not the only source of education for people but the community that you grow up and interact with also provides you a deeper understanding of one’s identity. Saadi Shirazi was born in 1210 CE. He wasn’t provided with as many facilities for a better education that the generation now Is provided and probably lacks in nothing, but yet his vision and definition towards humanity was this. This poem accurately describes the heart of Persian culture that probably most of the world is not familiar with, since these days culture is mistaken by what is negatively represented through the media.
From the raindrops that fall upon the tiny green rice sprouts that are collected delicately by the northern villagers to the sailing of fish by the southern warm hearted sailors that sing through the waves of the ocean while playing the most cheery music with oud (Barbat) with their authentically talented skills, is culture.
From the combination of sweet Goosh Feel of Esfahan, which is a certain baklava sweet, and the salty minty Doogh, which is a yogurt drink, to the crowded streets of Tajrish with it’s scents of freshly picked fruits and vegetables sold by the “singers” (the fruit venders in Iran usually use their vocals as a method of marketing to attract customers) in the alleys is culture.
Every speck of sand that made up Iran, the ex-land of Persia, is filled with art and poetry. Every color on this land has a story from history; every city carries its own story and tradition. Stories in forms of images are carved all around this historically rich country, each explaining the story behind Persian traits and the way we act and do things which is also some parts of the tradition.
Iran is filled with color, rhythm, romance (fun fact: the concept of wearing a ring for marriage was invented by Iranians during the Alchaemenid Empire) liveliness and most importantly freedom. Freedom appears in Iran in the form of art. For example, the interior and exterior design of mosques which are so fine and detailed that every tile carries its own precious story of completing that mosque. A mosque that people simply enter to worship God. Freedom appears in the strings of the young guitarists that turn their first love story into a rhythmical piece that carries lots of emotions, placing you right in the middle of two strangers' love story. Freedom appears in the muddy hands of craftsmen that patiently yet passionately craft into all the atoms of clay with every rotation bringing out a piece of their own mental journey.
This is Iran, my land, my pride that has been viewed by many unjust eyes that only bring what is that never defines it. Persia, Iran of today was found in 550 BC and through all these years it evolved and carried so much more than all the negative stereotypes that have been pointing towards Iran and Iranians.
Being an Iranian means carrying the pride and the culture of all parts, color, language, accents, cuisines and traditions with you day by day and growing to see how close you are to your true self and heritage. Just like me carrying my culture from Tehran, which is where I am in Iran, but also carrying the reputation, traits, culture and tradition from all parts of Iran.
Iran is far more than what could be described in a 1000-page book or so. Iran is like an unstoppable train that day after day carries more stories adding to its history and culture like a diary of an immortal kid.
A little something to imagine my city:
Childhood Love in Adulthood
Let our love be the lullaby for the broken winged birds,
Let these dusty cafes be filled with crazy lovers like me and you,
Come,
Come, let me and you play for the instrumentalists in the alleys of Tehran,
Let us play the rhythm of childhood love in adulthood,
The colorful laughers filling the cafes that have become the secret hangout place
For girls and boys that say their “I Love You”
With smiles that are filled with warm embraces of love,
Let us play the rhythm of hope inside the blurriest
Box of treasures that brought our hands together,
Let us play so the autumn leaves dance while
Detaching from trees,
Let us play, up until the winter hugs the alleys and streets of Tehran
the places where me and you walked hand in hand with white fluffy snow,
Let us play so that Amoo Norooz visits houses
Playing our song.
You never know, maybe our love like
Leyli and Majnoon,
Shirin and Farhad,
Romeo and Juliet
Reaches the ears of the lovers in Tehran,
But instead of tears on their cheeks
It gifts hope to their hearts.
Maybe tonight Bam Tehran will be filled with
the loud laughter of lovers
not the tears of the broken hearted.
-Ghazaleh Hosseini
Glossary:
Bam Tehran: roof of Tehran is a famous place where lovers usually go to and hangout
Amoo Norooz: a fictional figure similar to Santa that appears annually beginning of spring which is the time for Persian new year
Leyli and Majnoon, Shirin and Fahrad: these are love stories that are similar to Romeo and Juliet and also didn’t have the happiest ending
Imam's Square, Esfahan
Tabriz, Northern Iran
Imam's Square, Esfahan
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