Legend has it that nothing of us
Remains except for a name
Really? I doubt that too!
Yesterday, I opened my phone book
Looking for a friend’s number
When I came upon another friend’s name
That was needed no more.
I erased that dear name with my tears
since we had buried him a few days before.
Even in a pitiful phone book
No need for that name anymore!
Mahvash Shahegh
[Persian original]