“18th story”
First published: Dec.21.2017
A story by Laleh Chini:
One day in my early childhood, my father planned to take us to the “Hafez Monument” in our home town Shiraz.
Hafez is a very famous poet. Even nowadays most people around the world know or have heard about him.
People of Iran mostly in Shiraz use his poems for prediction or advisory and call it “Hafez Fal.” In special family gatherings, particularly in Friday picnics, someone carries the book of Hafez with them and everyone takes turns to close their eyes to make a wish and open the book on a random page.
Everyone would stay quiet to listen to the poem that had come up, answering whatever question that was in mind. It was so much fun. For us kids, they had to translate it into simpler terms so we could understand.
The Hafez Monument is so simple and beautiful. There are many tourists from around the world who pay a visit.
At the entrance, there are many old and young people selling something related to Hafez. There is usually someone with a little bird in a cage and some free birds, and when you pay some money, he asks the bird to pick a paper. That paper is a piece of “Hafez Fal”, which is one of Hafez’s poems that relates to your fortune or wish.
I remember one little boy was beside a scale, looking desperately at people, wishing for a customer to pay some money and weigh themselves.
That little boy drew my father’s attention. My father reached into his pocket and gave the little boy a big buck.
That little boy got very angry and said: “I am not a beggar sir. I work with pride.”
My father realized that he hadn’t done a good thing at all and to fix it, said: “No son, sorry for the misunderstanding. I gave the money upfront for you to weigh my family.”
The boy believed him cracked a smile and said: “But I don’t have change for this money.”
“Do you mind if I leave a tip?” Father added.
The boy showed a big beautiful laugh and said: “A tip is a legitimate wage.”
And we all laughed.
Dear friends, don’t forget to read my books.
Whatever a lovely anecdote. In my teen years and early twenties I was an avid reader of Sufi works, Hafez being one important figure to me.
Uh
That’s so great
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😊
That was a great story worthy to be retold over and over again. Merry Christmas!
Thanks Peter. I am happy that you liked it.😍
Reblogged this on lampmagician.
Thank you ❤️
A lovely tradition and a lovely story. Have you been celebrating Yalda Night? I understand it is a tradition to read Hafez for this special occasion.
Oh so nice that you know about yalda. Yes last night we attended a yalda celebration and was lovely.😍
I am glad to hear it.
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He was proud, but not stupid. ;>)
True,😊
Beautiful story! Now I must find a copy of one of his poetry collections, and find out what it predicts for me;-)
Uh
Lol
I hope you enjoy your fal 😍
Lovely story… Learnt a lot of lessons mostly from the little boy, “there’s dignity in hardwork
I wish the world was full of these kind of human beings😍
It can’t my dear, there will always be the good and the bad but it would be nice if the good surpasses the bad
You are absolutely right 😊❤️
I love the stories yo tell. 🙂 They brighten up my life.
Thanks a lot. That’s so sweet of you.😍
Thank you for this wonderful story. Have happy holidays.Michael;-)
Happy new year Michael 🌈😍
Thank you Laleh!Enjoy the holidays! 🌈😍
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Thanks a lot, dear❤️
You’re an amazing storyteller. 😊
Uhhhhh
You are very kind my dear 🌺
What a sweet story. I’m impressed with how your father dealt with the child’s dignity.
Thanks my dear friend for reading my tales and sharing your beautiful thoughts ❤️
I really hope that soon we will get over with this coronavirus… I really look forward to visit your beautiful country 🙂
Amen, we all need the world to go back to peace. Thanks dear for sharing your beautiful comment.❤️
I simply love that story. A reminder not to slight someone’s pride.
Thanks so much for your comment, always great having you.🌹
🙂
Sounds lovely
Appreciate your kind visit dear.🌹
A wonderful tradition and delightful anecdote with an endearing ending.
Hafiz’s poetry it a joy to read, it comforts the heart and enriches the soul. Do you have a favourite poem to share?
Hoping all are well, and you staying safe. Take care,
DN
Awww that’s so wonderful that you know so much about Hafez. Honestly we love all his poems and most of Persian gatherings end up with reading his poem’s randomly.
Appreciate it.❤️
What a truly magnificent monument.
And, yes, Hafez and his works are known the world over – and quite rightly so. Thank you for this.
Thanks Michael dear, appreciate your comment.🌹
Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal.
Thanks Eliza.🌹
Laleh what a wonderful tradition. Your story is beautiful and within it teaches us a valuable lessons.
Thanks so much lovely, appreciate it.❤️
You are always welcome! 💜🌹
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Beautiful and meaningful. Your father was quick-thinking and appreciative of the boy’s standpoint.
Appreciate your kind words.❤️
🙂
Thanks Joy.🌹
What a wise action your dad had with the boy! So tender…thank you for sharing Laleh♥️♥️
Appreciate your kindness dear.❤️
Thank you for posting this piece. Now I’m curious about Hafez. I’ve heard the name somewhere before when I was a kid, when we learn Islamic History at the mosque, along with Rumi, if I’m not mistaken, but I didn’t really pay attention back then. And, by the way, does Hafez mean “the one who remembers”? Like “hafiz” in Arabic?
Yes it does. It’s very interesting that you care to learn and pay attention to details, that’s the mind of a successful human.👏👏👏👏
Wow! Then some words in Parsi do similar to Arabic. 😀 Thanks for the beautiful words. 🙂
My pleasure.❤️
Thank you so much Laleh for making that wonderful efforts. It is a great read at my early morning. Happy to visit you for a while. Rising Star from https://idealinspiration.blog
Appreciate your kind words and thoughtful visit dear.❤️😍
You are most welcome dear and wishing you a very good health in these stressful days.
Thanks so much, stay safe.🌹
Thanks Laleh 💖
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Thank you.🌷
This is so very tender and sweet, Laleh! 💓
Your father is a wise man. 😊 If this is a true storry I mean. If it’s a fiction, still the father is a wise man. 😊
Thank you dear. Yes this is a true story from my childhood.🙏🌷😍