Two Poems by Bejan Baran
Peace
by Bejan Baran
1
Peace is the mother of civilization.
It is the eternal light-
under the dove's flying wings, carrying an olive branch.
In evolving civilization – it strengthens the 7 gates of life cycle-
from cradle to grave.
With it, the fields flourish, the roads sprawl, and the cities spread.
Peace is an uninterrupted creativity
for developing roads and buildings.
It is the children’s natural growth
with love of life’s sincerity and novelty
on the blessed rug of nature and human ingenuity.
In peace, fire and water were brought home.
Either peace or chaos; no:
Civilization is the preparation for them, too.
In the longevity cycle of peace, civilization flourishes.
100 years under the green shadow of peace.
Peace leads to union; with a reduction in armament.
Peace in the region and the world, fairness at home.
With cooperation, children chase butterflies
without stepping on the mine.
The solar system in peace;
human system yearns for peace, too.
Peace for animals and environment
with smile and tolerance -
horizontal, friendly relations.
2
Peace is the expansion of travel and trade.
Not martyrs; plenty of production heroes,
Not mothers in mourn; plenty of creative women.
Peace is a soaring flock of white doves in the borderless blue sky.
Plan to sow in the good soil in spring
harvest produce, irrigate orchards - full of fruits in July.
Prune the fruit trees under the clear blue sky
plow the fields - devoid of mine.
A child on a tricycle in a safe alley
or in a stroller with the mother pushing it on the pavement;
the father in the production line, for survival of the family.
Peace tolerates hatred;
The New Moon’s appeal on New Year sweeps hate from hearts
Peace in all circles:
Families, tribes, nations, countries, regions.
In it, no news of bombs and cannons.
Peace is humanity’s hope.
With prayers and chants, gentle believers
come out of hatred with plenty of kindness and companionship
visiting relatives and friends.
Joyous peace for calm thoughts, goodness, generosity
season of helping hand in peace
reaching out to rescue the poor and unfortunate -
under the gazing of the blessed crescent moon.
3
Peace is by the wall
under the ceiling of sprawl, with a pen and paper on the table.
Wall is not the barrier against imagination.
An obstacle to delay liberty, yes!
Though, an ascending stairway to civil rights, too.
The Saadi’s couplet,* etched on the United Nations entrance:
“All human beings are members of one body..”
From the crack in the wall, it can be seen
the threshold of the centennial passage to modernity -
red flame of the world Olympiad
high banner of citizenry emancipation, beauty, liberty, youth;
above, the flight of white doves of an egalitarian peace on the green Earth
in the absence of borders, lack of walls.
Peace is a permanent festivity for all;
conversation and communication.
Peace is the multitude of flags raised in one place.
Passing through the borders without a visa.
Peace is the common language of human beings-
with the universality of laughter and hope facing a bright future
from today’s understanding and well-wishing.
*Saadi (d. 1290, Shiraz) quoting the holly books, Human beings originated from Adam.
The Prayer
I’m looking at the brook.
A leaf is falling.
A leaf is carried away.
I hear the growth of another leaf.
A leaf in the wind
A cloud in the wind
The Earth in the wind
Wind- the World wind
removes the borders.
And the Earth - the free Earth
becomes again a virgin without make-up.