Working with Pride|کار با افتخار

By ( 64 )

“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.

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Hafez is a very famous poet. Even nowadays most people around the world know or have heard about him.

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People of Iran and 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.

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Everyone would stay quiet to listen to the poem that had come up, answering whatever question that was in mind. It was so fun. For us kids, they had to translate it to simpler terms so we could understand.

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The Hafez Monument is so simple and beautiful. There are many tourists from around the world to pay a visit.

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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 which relates to your fortune or wish.

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I remember one little boy was beside a scale, looking desperately at people, wishing for a customer to pay some money and weigh themselves.

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That little boy drew my father’s attention. My father reached 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 didn’t do 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 and cracked a smile and said: “But I don’t have change for this money.”

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“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:

You can purchase my book “Climbing Over Grit” Winner of “Canada Book Award” at;

Barnes & Noble, Gardners, Bertrams, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com and all bookselling channels via hubs in the US, UK, Brazil, Germany, Russia, and Australia. The links are listed below:

http://l-aleph.com

http://www.wisehouse-publishing.com

https://m.barnesandnoble.com

http://www.baker-taylor.com

https://www.gardners.com

https://www.bertrams.com/BertWeb/index.jsp

https://www.whitcoulls.co.nz/product/climbing-over-grit-978917637553237903

Our Book Page is:

http://l-aleph.com/project/climbing-over-grit/

http://l-aleph.com/our-authors-2/

Join me at:

lalehchini.com

Facebook-LinkedIn-Laleh Chini

twitter @chini_laleh

Instagram avoicefromiran

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Categories: bedtime story, fable, folk tale, parable, Storytelling, taleTags:

64 comments ›

  1. janmalique
    December 21, 2017 • 5:35 pm

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  2. Peter Klopp
    December 21, 2017 • 6:50 pm

    That was a great story worthy to be retold over and over again. Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  4. Gallivanta
    December 22, 2017 • 9:56 am

    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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  5. mitchteemley
    December 22, 2017 • 9:28 pm

    He was proud, but not stupid. ;>)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  6. elisabethm
    December 24, 2017 • 5:48 pm

    Beautiful story! Now I must find a copy of one of his poetry collections, and find out what it predicts for me;-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  7. Soul Therapist
    December 25, 2017 • 8:05 am

    Lovely story… Learnt a lot of lessons mostly from the little boy, “there’s dignity in hardwork

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  8. freiedenkerin
    December 25, 2017 • 12:57 pm

    I love the stories yo tell. 🙂 They brighten up my life.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  9. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    December 27, 2017 • 2:11 am

    Thank you for this wonderful story. Have happy holidays.Michael;-)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  11. 10000hoursleft
    February 22, 2018 • 7:25 am

    You’re an amazing storyteller. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  12. equipsblog
    October 2, 2018 • 2:04 pm

    What a sweet story. I’m impressed with how your father dealt with the child’s dignity.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  13. Farida Hakim
    March 30, 2020 • 8:22 am

    I really hope that soon we will get over with this coronavirus… I really look forward to visit your beautiful country 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  14. crispina kemp
    March 30, 2020 • 8:22 am

    I simply love that story. A reminder not to slight someone’s pride.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  16. Dewin Nefol
    March 30, 2020 • 8:33 am

    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

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  17. michael9murray
    March 30, 2020 • 9:01 am

    What a truly magnificent monument.
    And, yes, Hafez and his works are known the world over – and quite rightly so. Thank you for this.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  19. inhiscare753
    March 30, 2020 • 11:27 am

    Laleh what a wonderful tradition. Your story is beautiful and within it teaches us a valuable lessons.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  20. Rosaliene Bacchus
    March 30, 2020 • 1:48 pm

    Beautiful and meaningful. Your father was quick-thinking and appreciative of the boy’s standpoint.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  22. Sonrisa (Crissy)
    March 31, 2020 • 12:20 am

    What a wise action your dad had with the boy! So tender…thank you for sharing Laleh♥️♥️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  23. morishige
    March 31, 2020 • 1:42 am

    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?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓
  24. Rising Star
    April 5, 2020 • 2:50 am

    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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

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