Maryam Sadri

For me to talk about my deep relationship with Lila, I first must provide the readers with a little background about my own life. I grew up in England and spent most of my early life in a Boarding School before going to the United States in the pursuit of a higher-level education. Going back to Iran after all the years being away and not having a full knowledge of the customs, the language, and the rich literature of our culture was already difficult, and it became even more difficult when I married into the Kasra family. 

My husband Massoud, much like his sister Lila, was enthralled with poetry and loved to participate in the get togethers Leila had at her house in which many of the famous poets and singers of the time participated. At these gatherings, poets would recite their poetry and singers would sing their songs through to the early hours of the morning. Imagine me, barely able to speak the language, yet alone understand the meaning of the poetry sitting in these “bazm” sessions for hours on end. I would be at a loss of what to do to hold myself from falling asleep!

Eventually my husband Massoud, who understood the difficult situation I was in, decided to teach me to understand and interpret the deep feeling expressed through poetry in the recited poems. We would sit in the middle of our bed for hours going line by line through different poems, especially Lila’s, until I understood the full meaning of what they intended to convey. Thus began my appreciation of poetry and my love for Lila and her poems.

The feelings she conveyed in her poems really touched my heart. She conveyed her own deep feelings through her poems, and once I began to understand them, we grew closer together. I remember asking her how she came to write her first poem, she said she was in the shower and looking at the soap suds going down the drain inspired her to write what came to her mind on paper and that is where it all began. 

Lila and Eskandar had a beautiful villa near the Caspian Sea. They loved getting the family together there. Our children grew up having wonderful memories of these visits in which Leila showered us with her love, wonderful food, and lots of good times. She was always a very giving person, always wanting to share what she had with everyone. 

I remember the night we went to dinner with Fereydoun Khoshnoud, who was the first person with whom Lila collaborated when it came to brining her lyrics to the music scene and to having her songs performed by famous singers of the time. Seeing the excitement in Leila’s eyes was something I will never forget! It was as if she finally realized her worth and the knowledge that the world wanted to hear her poems and be serenaded through her songs.

We were all excited to go to this fancy party that was hosted by a very well-known Iranian family in Iran. We prepared by getting new dresses, shoes, bags, and did our hair and makeup, ready to have a ball. When Lila came to put on her dress, she suddenly felt the lump in her breast, this was devastating for her. She called, distraught and frightened. We ended up not going to the party and spending the night trying to console her and reassuring her that it was probably nothing to be concerned about and that all would end well. I wish that was the case. It was the beginning of a nightmare for her and for all that loved her.

We hugged and cried together so many times before she left for England to pursue her treatment of this terrible cancer.

The next time I saw Lila was in the United States when she was undergoing treatment at UCLA and lived in an apartment in Los Angeles with her entire family. We were both so excited to see each other again after all those years. She continued to recite her poems, and our friendship continued until she became too sick to be at able to stay home and was admitted to UCLA.

I visited her often, but as sick as she was, she insisted that I call before visiting her because she wanted me to see her made up and looking pretty and elegant! 

She was always beautiful both inside and out. she had a very pure soul that only wanted to help the people in need and to share whatever she had with the people that she loved. She was also quick to forgive, many had done her wrong throughout her life, but she strived to show them she was who she was and that forgiveness was part of her being. 

Her death was a big blow not only to us and to her family but to the entire population of Iran who were deprived of one their most talented poets who was able to bring out her emotions through her words and to turn those word into beautiful songs that touched one’s soul.

My love will always be with her and her children,