Parastu? Present. Parastu, Parastu, Parastu………….
It’s first grade, and the echo of my name resonates across the room. I am curious to know what my name means? Ask my father, “father, can you please define Parastu?” My father collects himself and earnestly states, “Parastu is a bird that conveys the longing of spring. In a distant time, when the cold weather is replaced by warmth, Parastus start appearing on the horizon to fly back home. Once they locate Parastus, men start celebrating the beginning of spring and blossom.”
It has been years since Parastu left home for the ferocious winter and still flys from region to region to call it home and return with the spring.
I think to myself, where is Parastu’s home?
Like Forugh, I plant my wings in the garden of LIFE to blossom ONE LOVE, then I call it HOME and return with spring.
Note: Forugh Farrokhzad was an Iranian poet.
