Mike Burch

Brother Iran

Brother Iran, I feel your pain.

I feel it as when the Turk fled Spain.
As the Jew fled, too, that constricting span,

I feel your pain, Brother Iran.

Brother Iran, I know you are noble!

I too fear Hiroshima and Chernobyl.

But though my heart shudders, I have a plan,

and I know you are noble, Brother Iran.

Brother Iran, I salute your Poets!

your Mathematicians!, all your great Wits!

O, come join the earth’s great Caravan.

We’ll include your Poets, Brother Iran.

Brother Iran, I love your Verse!

Come take my hand now, let’s rehearse

the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

For I love your Verse, Brother Iran.

Bother Iran, civilization’s Flower!

How high flew your spires in man’s early hours!

Let us build them yet higher, for that’s my plan,

civilization’s first flower, Brother Iran.

Mike Burch