Taroneh Afsoon

Poems by Taroneh Afsoon

---

A silent man

A steadfast presence
The power of conviction
Behind a still face.

Standing at Romance Falls
Denying involvement
Alliance smiling brightly Pulling me to dip.

Our paths crossed
No words were said
Only once a yes
Never to be wed.

Lake of Tears
Meaning passed
Agreement in principle
Searching ourselves.

Alone and alone
Side by side
A kindred spirit
Though unreachable remains.

A swim and a picnic
Anger and joy
Trepidation and happiness
Desire and disappointment.

Sorrow and flame
Bolts in face
From wrathful visitor
Still stood in grace.

A kitchen chef
Flour in face
Mr. Easy-Go-Bake
His cuisine no disgrace.

Now a crisis
A man with agenda
Comes to front
And severs the thread.

No words to say
A silent hope
That this will end
And relation will go on.

The blind fish swim
In my cavern dark
Following lost current
Hoping for vision.

Up they come
Stay a while
Swim away
To the depths they file.

He often sits
Writing book
In the world
But not of it.

He watched arguments fly
As other's violence flared
Of no value to participate
Left unperturbed.

He is gone now
His silent presence
Time has passed
Become silent absence.

His play is finished
He takes his bow
And like an audience--

The silence claps.

~

The Letter

A knock at my door, tump tump!
I am roused
I open to see
--No one.

I glance down
Tucked into stone
White as a swan
A secret letter.

I peek at the street
No one sees me
I take the letter
Inside to my room.

I draw the shades
With trembling fingers
I light the candle
And smooth the sheets.

The darkness closes
I hold the letter
Folding knees onto softness,
I curl upon my bed.

I listen closely
Not a breath stirs
The candle reveals ink letters
My name.

Quiet now, safe but not secure
I draw my nail
Across the paper
Impatient expectation.

The ink stands clear
In feeble light
The words beckon
To my private ears.

I do read
Through my eyes
Words to me
That flush my skin.

I do smoulder
I am lost
The air grows heavy
My breath is gone.

What I have read
That has happened to me
Captures me completely
In sultry desire.

As I burn now
Now I burn this letter
The words on paper lost
Ashes to mark my soul.

No one must see
The words of fire
Meant only for me
Always, always forever.

So inscribed
My resistance fails
I douse the candle
And dream of passion.

A knock at my door, tump tump!
I am roused
I open to see--
For you my love, my heart leaves me.

~

Window Pane

How often you come
To gaze the flowered meadows
Beyond pane,
Through me,
Window vain.

Vision to see your surroundings
To know your home
Allowing rays to shine
Through me,
Clarity fine.

You, past me, to without
And I, to you, within me
Reflecting your smile
Through me,
An empty tile.

Four walls surrounding you
All enclosed and dark within
Except single pane
Through me,
Empty and inane.

The brutal elements of grey days
Hold no sway on you
They must pass
Through me,
Brittle glass.

Shades you draw across me
I see you no more
No more sight
Through me,
No more light.

Seasons flow and dust settles
You have departed
Losing connection
Through me,
Absent reflection.

The tolls of the ages
Pass their judgements
Wither my frame
Through me,
Lost, my name.

Integrity gone and buffeted by storm
I weaken, neglected, loosening grip
Drafts scurry
Through me,
Please come, hurry.

A new day comes, your home is restored
Clarity and vision returns with you again
Renewed and graced
Without me,
Broken and replaced.

~