F Ghaemi
December 1987

Ode on an Iranian Banknote

Thou Iranian green-back banknote
Thou foster child of toil and thought;
All the people crave and covet
To see thy mien which is well-wrought

Money's beauty, beauty's money

Thou hast a symphony and a song
To the rich do they belong
Thy shape's beautiful but unseen
Thy music's nice but unsung

Money is truth, truth is money

People all bow thee to reach
Thou art sweet like a peach
All of them clap, all applause
And mutter them each to each

Money's beauty, beauty's money

Though an alien, come to me
Though a stranger, let me see
Thou honourable master of economy
Let me have a glance on thee

Money's truth, truth is money

(F Ghaemi, 18/11/1367)