Mask
By Majid Naficy
To Shayda
If your mother were at your side
She would make you a sword
Six feet long
So that you could hold it in your hand
And go out of the house
Fearlessly.
But now
She has sent you a mask
Made of two cotton fabrics
To cover your nose and mouth
With two shoe laces
To tie behind your head.
She remembers the nights
You couldn’t breathe
Sitting behind your nebulizer
And fighting a ghoul
Who had his foot
On your chest.
April 16, 2020
صورتک
مجید نفیسی
به شیدا
اگر مادرت کنارت بود
برایت شمشیری میساخت
به درازای شش پا
تا آن را بدست گیری
و بیواهمه از خانه بیرون روی.
اما اکنون
برایت صورتکی فرستاده
از دو پارچهی پنبهای
که بینی و دهانت را میپوشاند
و با دو بند کفش
پشت سرت بسته میشود.
او شبهایی را بیاد میآورد
که نمیتوانستی نفس بکشی
پشت دستگاه بخور مینشستی
و به جنگ غولی میرفتی
که پایش را
روی سینهات گذاشته بود.
شانزدهم آوریل دوهزاروبیست
from Kelly:
Excellent! The photo works well in this context. .....and I forgive your 'poetic license'! Ha!
from Hamid:
Mamnun majid jon, very good poem.
from Tom Lombardo:
Excellent and timely poem "The Mask." Thanks for keeping me on your list. Hope you and your family are well. So far, so good here in Atlanta.
from Casey:
Face masks are more fierce than swords these days. And there is nothing like a mother's love.
Thank you for sending!
from Mohsen:
The poem has the imagination of a child (sword and ghoul) and the warmth of a caring mother for her daughter. The language is simple and beautiful. Whoever has suffered from asthma or coronavirus can immediately identify with this masterpiece.
from Lillian Boraks Nemetz:
Dear Majid
So apropos.
We always wondered what’s behind
The mask. Now we know: feeling of security, but as usual this feeling has its fake side.
Stay well and safe
Lillian
from Naomi Shihab Nye:
I love this! Send it to THE SUN! They are collecting poems of this time!
from Shayda:
What a powerful poem, Majid jan, merci.
You are right, my mom would give me a sword, or better yet, slay the beast herself if she could. She is a fierce, mama wolf......."
from Moin:
Hi Aziz jaan,
Really enjoyed it. I'm sharing it with all my buddies.
Love you