That Tall poet with Red scarf / by; Mahnaz Badihian
I Wrote and read this poem on Jack Hirschman’s 80th birth day
On Dec. 13, 2013 in SF,CA
That Tall poet with Red scarf
One needs to be quiet to internalize
The very essence of his beliefs,
His amazing love for people
And his true hate for war!
Which is all obvious in his art ,
His behavior and the way of living!
For one week i lived in his intense emotion
For communism and his hate for Capitalism,
When i was translating his long poems
“ The Soviet Cenotaph Arcane“
And i woke up from the night mare of dying leftist ideology!
I was touched by his kindness towards individuals,
Who were otherwise ignored by others.
I was moved by his response when i offered
To give him set of new teeth and he, J.H,
With a kind ,humble voice replied:
” No, I am fine like this. I like it!”
J.H: I even like you this way!
How amazing it is that you look like my father,
Tall, handsome, with loving eyes,
Gentle voice and that nose!
Have no doubt J.H, that your class struggle
Helped many Saplings to rise with their words,
And to be brave with their pen and poetry!
And now I am wondering how desolate and empty,
North Beach in San Francisco will feel to me
Without that tall man with red scarf and wild white hair.
Without his graceful walking from city lights
To go to cafe Trieste to meet with many friends,
Young poets and those who admire him
with him, every day
His beautiful Swedish wife, Poet, Agneta,
side by side like two poplar trees,
Emerging lovingly!
Mahnaz Badihian
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