Majid Naficy: Two Neighbors

This morning when returning from stair-climbing
I saw her going for a walk.
She was brisk and swinging her arms:
“Mr. Clever is returning
Mrs. Lazy is just leaving.”

We both fled our homeland
Lost our spouses
And live with our only sons.

Now, in her apartment downstairs 
She is listening to orders of customers
On her answering machine.
The scent of chicken tahchin
Is wafting up to me
Through the window 
And I know soon
She will knock at my door:
“Mr. Poet loves tahchin
Mrs. Chef brings it to him.”

Copyright 2023 Majid Naficy

Majid Naficy is the author of many books in Persian and in English including Father & Son published by Red Hen.