Archive - Dec 11, 2009 - Article

Sanctions at the end of the tunnel

Over the last several years—and especially since last June’s tainted presidential elections—any remaining moderates or pragmatists that were once part of the Iranian government’s decision-making structure have essentially been purged from the system. Today the country is being run by a hardline Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who is surrounded by likeminded ideologues who have two overarching instincts: mistrust and defiance. They generally perceive proposals and overtures that are endorsed by the United States as poison pills>>>

Madam Elephant

We got a huge one this year – an enormous Christmas tree. It took three people to haul it all the way up the stairs into the living room. And we placed it by the window – right where it can get plenty of fresh air and a view of the other trees in the park. My goodness – it is enormous. How are we going to decorate it? Look. All those boxes of decoration, magically appear. All year they have been sitting patiently in the basement, waiting, waiting for this wonderful December day. Let’s open them – shall we? One at a time?>>>

راگو

خودم هم نمی دانم راگو چیست. نه این که نمی دانم، یک چیزهایی شنیده ام. ولی این که دقیقا بدانم، نه. همین قدر می دانم که با شنیدن اسمش زندانی می شوم. همین که به آن فکر می کنم چنین اتفاقی می افتد. یاد زندان هایی می افتم که هرگز نرفته ام. دیوار سلول ها یکی یکی که نه، که با هم می آیند بالا و دور و برم را می گیرند. یک در فلزی هم می آید با یک دریچه ی کوچک که بعضی وقت ها بسته است و بعضی وقت ها فقط چند تا میله ی گرد فلزی دارد و می شود آن طرفش را دید. همین چند سلول روبرویی و مقداری از راهرو پیداست>>>

مزد رسوایی

آنکه دیوانه و رسوای جهان ساخت مرا
دیده بر دیده من دوخته نشناخت مرا
مزد بد نامی‌ و رسوایی من بود که دوست
این چنین راحت و بی‌ دغدغه پرداخت مرا >>>

A Preacher and a Sly!

The long road slipped
on a patch of frozen time
I hit a moving memory
The pain saw the crime
It took me in
Sat me in the back seat of the regret
In between a priest and a silly vagrant >>>