Lila's Familt Member
Poetry was the Greatest Source of Happiness & Peace for Lila
I never had a chance to really know my late aunt Lila Kasra. What I know of her I have heard and learned from other family members. She was the oldest sister of my father, Massoud Kasra. They had other sisters and brothers but these two were the ones that had the gift of poetry.
I have some memories of my aunt from my childhood before her departure from Iran in 1977. I clearly remember her home in Tehran and her villa in northern Iran by the Caspian Sea. I loved the times all our families would come together at the villa. She was such a gracious host and always gave us the best time possible.
I saw her again a few times in Los Angeles in the fall of 1988 after I too came to the United States. At that time, she was living with her family in Woodland Hills. By that time her disease had progressed, and she was very sick. She died in May 1989. As her friend Parvin writes in her statement, “Writing and reciting poetry was the greatest source of happiness and peace for Lila. It was the air that made her heartbeat and brought joy to her soul.” This is something she had in common with my father.
My father also had a great love for Iranian poetry, particularly when it came to the works of classical poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Saa’di. But he also appreciated the works of modern poets such as Mirzadeh Eshghi & Fereydoun Moshiri. He too was the happiest when he was reciting, or discussing, the works of these great poets.
In the early 1980’s we were at my grandmother Ghamar’s house in Iran one night when Lila called from America and had a long conversation with my dad about a poem she had recently written.
Her poem was inspired by:
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which is the famous work of the legendary poet Rudaki. This poem expressed her unhappiness about the course of events in Iran and for her being away from her country. In her poem, she makes references to Imam Ali and Hafez which I am sure made it more appealing to my father.
After the call my father sat down at the dining table and tried to console her by writing a response to what she had written. Later, he mailed it to her; she was surprised and loved the way he was able to integrate her piece into his poetry.
This is a great example of their closeness as brother and sister and their mutual love for poetry.
Unfortunately, the brother and sister never had the chance to meet again. I would have liked to share with you what he wrote that night, but I do not have it in my possession. But this is what she had written:
I am sure that now, even in the heavens, they are still exchanging poetry and enjoying each other’s company!
May they both rest in peace.
