My Iran, Just Smile

My Iran, I ask nothing of you… just smile… My Iran, I am your child, a child who grew tall and strong in your name… I write to tell you this: I ask nothing of you. Just smile… I do not ask you to give me back my youth, or the body of my mother who sleeps beneath your soil. Years away from you left me thirsty for the smell of your spring rain. But even parched, I do not ask for rain… You… just smile… I watched the sun rise in lands far from you and wept for the dawns I missed beside the Karun. I do not even ask for my sight. Just let the sun’s dance on the waves of your Persian Gulf fill you with color. I mean… just smile… For years I heard the mournful reed and the dance of chains and frame drums. I do not ask you for a canary’s song… just smile… I left home and lost the oil, water, and electricity that should have been on our table. I do not even ask you for bread… just smile… I have nothing dearer than my life, yet I would give it freely for your freedom. I do not even ask you for that… But you… just smile… I love you so much that I ask nothing of you, not even for myself; I ask not even God of you. Just smile… May all I have be sacrificed for you, so you may be free in the care of your guardian, the king of my homeland. And from that day on… you… just smile… Long live my Iran. Long live the Shah. @PahlaviReza