Simin Behbahani on competition between her and Forough Farrokhzad
Author: Simin Behbahani
Source: "Guzareshnamae Afghoniston"
Lady Simin Behbahani writes about her as follows: Forough and I became famous in the same arena, we boiled from the same ground and grew green almost at the same time, but there was a competition between me and Forough. I do not hide the fact that there were meetings that she and I and several poets and enthusiasts attended regularly, but there was never a friendship between the two of us. Our words often smelled of lovelessness. You can call it jealousy...
One night in a meeting, I was so upset with her that I decided not to see her again. Nevertheless, I followed the evolution of her poetry. I could not get rid of my grief. Maybe she is too...
Even though I could not see her anymore, I tried not to fall behind her. She was a good runner and she could make me run me as well. I always had that feeling for her.
One day it was dusk, it was winter. "Another Birth" was published and widely accepted. The phone rang. A vibrating voice said on the phone: "Forough had an accident and..." Another phone and another phone. I did not want to believe, but I had to believe. Rather than think deeply about the tragedy, selfishness came to me like this: If it is true, if it is so, who else will run to make you run?
I did not recite poetry for a while. I thought there was no one to make me run any more. Finally, after a while, I said: why? Is your leg broken? Finally, after a while, I said: why? Is your leg broken? She was running after her death, just like you. I correctly understood that she even ran after her death. She ran with the wave she raised...
Meravam hastavu afsurdavu zor,
Suyi manzilgahe vaironae khesh.
Ba Khudo, mebaram az shahri shumo,
Dili shuridavu devonai khesh.
I am leaving tired and depressed,
Towards my ruined home.
I will go to God from your city,
With my troubled and mad heart.
Sweet Forough!
