Below is a poem by long time reader of Parsi Khabar, Siloo Kapadia.
A Parsi Lady
By Siloo Kapadia
I’m rolling my chapatti
And I’m swinging my hips
And from my rose water
I’m taking a sip
The smell of fresh dhansakh
Permeates the air
Deekras, I’m a Parsi
And I haven’t a care!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating chawal
Forever eating dal!
In the morning I get up and I do my
Kusti
Saying my prayers that never get
Rusty
And I put on my devoo
And I burn my sandalwood
I’d even go to agiari
Everyday if I could!
The smell of agarbatti floats
All over my flat
I breathe it deeply in
And I forget that I’m fat
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating chawal
Forever eating dal!
The saris that I have
Not one, not two, but many!
Some with gara
Oh they cost a pretty penny!
But it really don’t matter
And I really don’t care
When I go out
I plan to go with some flare!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi chick
But don’t ever cross me, baby
Or you’ll get a Parsi kick!
We Parsis are good people
At least most of us
We love and give and teach
Without making much fuss
We have built and taught and served
We have cured and healed and heard
When people praise us
With their blessings and their words
Oh, not all of us are good
Some of us are evil
Siding with the British
Like as if to fight we were too feeble
But not all were like that
Thankfully only a few
Those that think we’re Western
Please just get a clue!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating chawal
Forever eating dal!
Some people say we’re Persian
Some people say we’re white
Some people say we’re Asian
And they ALL want to fight
I say that we are Parsi
Forget about the races
We are the result of many
Just look at all our faces
Some of us look Persian
Some of us look Thai
Some of us look Gujrati
No, I am not high!
This is the truth
This is the reality
Squabbling over nonsense
Shows low mentality
I say that we are Parsi
Be we fat or be we thin
I say that we are Parsi
And so we’re all like kin!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating chawal
Forever eating dal!
Chalking up my doorway
At the start of the day
Makes me feel something special
May really come my may!
Too bad some of our young men
Just have plain no ambition
Easy jobs at Jet Airways
To do else hurts their inhibition
And our younger women
All bright and smart and rich
Too bad as dating partners they are
Really the bitch!
And some crazies just don’t want to
Let others into the fold
They think that our “specialness”
Will simply gather mold.
Is it any wonder that
That with this great divide
Our numbers are dwindling?
Yet some take this all in stride!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever saying “deekra”
Forever playing with my bal!
Getting ready for Patatee
What to wear?
Hell, no nose rings!
That’s just too much to bear
No head scarves for sure!
No veils over the face
Try to put one on me and
I’ll hit you with my mace
We Parsi women are progressive
We Parsi women are hip
Listen to what I’m saying
This is really no fib!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever staying stylish
Forever playing with my bal!
Sometimes I wear a chotla
Sometimes my hair is straight
Sometimes it’s in a tight bun
None of it do I hate
Those who say that we are
Forbidden to spread the joy
Stating blood lines as a reason
Using religion as a toy
But I say God’s love and message
Are for all who want to listen
But some have hidden agendas
And some personal financial missions
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Don’t mess with me deekra
Don’t lie to me, pal!
Some want to spread their gupsup
Some want to spread their ca-ca
They think we’ll all stay quiet
That we won’t mind it, bacha!
But let me tell you bacha
Just let me tell you dear
Of your ranting and your raving
No more will anyone fear!
The days of your corruption
The days of your inspired blight
The days when your say was final
The days of all your might
Are coming to a close
Are coming to an end
No more will we backwards
Turn around and bend!
The money that you clench
And use at your discretion
Those days are going to end
With a few more voting sessions!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Don’t mess with me deekra
Or I will say KAPPAL!
It’s time for me to close
This, my little ditty
And go back to my chair where I’ll be
Sitting quite pretty
But Siloo will be back
Stronger than ever
My skin might be soft
But I’m tougher than leather
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating chawal
Forever eating dal!
Again!
I am a Parsi lady
I am a Parsi gal
Forever eating my chawal
Forever eating my dal!