I used to have a family
You know?
Back when I wasn't taken hostage
On your cold, ceramic tile counter top

And I used to eat real food
Did you notice I'm not a dog?
So feeding me mangled up, crushed bits of Purina
Doesn't make my coat shiny

I can remember a time when I felt alive
Instead of sleeping all day
Pretending to be dead
I used to be free

Then one day I was captured and sold into slavery
And you found me at that air-brushed T-shirt stand
In Ocean City
There you decided your life was incomplete without me

It's interesting how once we return to home
We forget about those summer nights
Wearing pucca shell necklaces
When you purchased me because of my superman shell

What is a superman anyway?
He mustn't be so super
If he can't get me far away
Far, far away from here

My kiss burns like a brisk day in fall
When the leaves all change
And everything is dying
But apparently it’s beautiful
Even when plants are going to sleep
Because the world needs to be different now.
My kiss burns in the way a shelving unit is frustrating
All the instructions are in Japanese
But you took high school Spanish
That should’ve helped
But it didn’t
And neither will the IKEA hotline when you call.
My kiss burns like an empty room
Where there’s just one naked lightbulb
And the light is too harsh
So you squint a bit
The walls are white so there’s not much to see
But there should be.
My kiss burns how empty tuna cans smell
The whole room reeks like it
Your roommate judges you for eating it
But you’re too poor for real food
And cans are fun to open
Though you really need pickles with this.
My kiss burns as badly as middle school photos
When pucca shell necklaces were cool
And baggy t-shirts hid the fact
Yes, you are a girl
Comb your hair
Because this moment will consume your memory.

HAPPINESSSSS TO FREYANUSH....

Happy happy happy birthday, my Lil Champ.
I know busy very you are at the skating camp.
Tired you must be getting; n your spirits may be damp.

Grow to be, may you like your great Grand-Pa, a human great;
Who in Ahura,  our religion n humanity, had a deep faith.
May wonderful, useful, healthy n happy be your fate.

Work hard n also enjoy life you may; always may you wine n dine.
But certainly grow up to be a Parsi pucca and a human fine.
You are the most beloved, little darling of mine.

With lots of love n all good wishes
from Dae, Ma, Shez, Phil and Zoi.
And loads n loads of love, kisses and hugs from Ma.

Armin Dutia Motashaw

HAPPPPPPINESSSS ALWAYSSSSSS

To my ever dearest darling  Gran,

As the first ray of Khorshed Yazad strikes down upon our Earth;

May it bless and fill your entire life with lots n lots of mirth.

You have  been my darling, ever since  Shez gave you birth.

May  you  become another  MSD, just like  your super star

In fact,  I wish you become better than him, not just at par.

Alongside may you become a legend like your  great grandfather, Keki, an attorney at bar.

Remember darling,  you have responsibilities towards the  community

Please try to bring back its glory, (sadly which is fading) n our unity.

Like your great grandma, Jer, a pucca Bawa become  n Parsipanu practise.

My blessings and love are always with you. May Ahura bless you with His choicest blessings.
Aedoon Baad

Dae, Ma, Mummy , Daddy n Zoishbanu.

To my ever dearest darling  Gran,

As the first ray of Khorshed Yazad strikes down upon our Earth;

May it bless and fill your entire life with lots n lots of mirth.

You have  been my darling, ever since  Shez gave you birth.

May  you  become another  MSD, just like  your super star

In fact,  I wish you become better than him, not just at par.

Alongside may you become a legend like your  great grandfather, Keki, an attorney at bar.

Remember darling,  you have responsibilities towards the  community

Please try to bring back its glory, (sadly which is fading) n our unity.

Like your great grandma, Jer, a pucca Bawa become  n Parsipanu practise.

My blessings and love are always with you. May Ahura bless you with His choicest blessings.
Aedoon Baad

Dae, Ma, Mummy , Daddy n Zoishbanu.