Feelings and Dealings: Life Lessons in Rhyme

By Reza Noubary

Life is a mystery to be lived, loved, and experienced by getting up and showing
We are as good as a dummy if we slow down or stop moving, learning, and growing

Reza Noubary has experienced a full life as an insider, outsider, majority and minority, winner, loser, believer, denier, student, teacher, son, father, grandfather, friend, and competitor. He has dealt with a difficult childhood, poverty, physical and mental health issues, revolution, war, shortages, and the stress of learning and adjusting to different cultures, visions, rules, and values.

In a collection of rhyming poems, Noubary, who is a math scholar, shares verse that touches on social and political issues and the related changes as well as contemporary life experiences and valuable lessons learned along the way. Within his compilation, Noubary explores love, happiness, wisdom, religion, and even mathematics while also including humorous insights that invite others to remember the importance of laughter, even during the most serious of times.

Feelings and Dealings is a collection of life lessons shared in poetry form that remind all of us that life is a gift full of unpredictable surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781480889828

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Copyright © 2020 Reza Noubary.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-8981-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-8982-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020906899

Archway Publishing rev. date: 04/29/2020

I

Dedicate This Book to My

Wonderful wife, Zohreh,

Loving sister-in-law Azar, and

Generous brother-in-law Morteza.

I would also like to mention my sons, Behzad and Farzad, my

lovely granddaughter Shiela, and my nephew Mehran.

Rain or shine, up or down, stress or fun, we always acted as one.

Cared for each other, and that helped us to move forward and shine.

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Warm-Up

Chapter 2 Whimsy/Fun

Chapter 3 Mathematics

Chapter 4 Life and Happiness

Chapter 5 Childhood, Adulthood, and Wisdom

Chapter 6 Love

Chapter 7 America, World, and Contemporary Life

Chapter 8 Thoughts and Advice

Chapter 9 Religion and Nature

Chapter 10 Cool down

About the Author

PREFACE

I have lived a life of poverty, serious health issues, revolution, war, and the hardship of moving from country to country. Though stressful, it has provided me with a great opportunity to learn about life and human conditions. Today, my wife and I live in a small, beautiful, and peaceful college town in Pennsylvania. We are happy to live in a country where most people are kind and caring, a country that has made a significant contribution to the progress of the world, especially in the areas of science and technology.

Like most other countries, in recent years due to globalization, social media, and the change in world order, the United States has gone through some social and political changes. This book presents and describes the effects of such changes the way I see or perceive them expressed in poems. It also reflects my views toward certain aspects of contemporary life.

Life and Compass

Human beings live on the tip of a compass and move forward with their desired speed, my friends.

They seemingly chose different paths but finally return to their starting points, and that is where the story ends.

Could We?

Could we raise our children to love the unloved and the hunted?

Give them the sense that roses need the thorns, though unwanted?

Teach them to speak for those who have no choice or no voice,

Be tender, understanding, and nonjudgmental, especially on the unfounded?

Happiness

Happiness could mean many different things, it is hard to agree

For some is wealth, for some love, and for some having a degree

I see it in the joy of achievement and the thrill of being kind

In watching the nature, noting its complexity, and the joy of being free.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I start with expressing my profound gratitude to my spouse extraordinaire, Zohreh, who does her utmost to help me concentrate on my work. And to Ashley Bilinski for her assistance in typing the book. Hats off to my friends for their help, support, and encouragement. I cannot fail to honor the memory of my mother and brother. Special thanks to Connie Christian and students Lucas Pertschi, Chandler Hughes, and a few others for their help.

We were living in a world of fantasies until

reality hit in a matter of days.

It opened our eyes to some hidden facts, we found

ourselves inside a mind-boggling maze.

Places of learning and worship were deserted

by all, even their passionate followers.

Not hugging, kissing, and visiting parents and friends

became an act of love, something we now praise.

Power, beauty, and money lost their magic as they

can no longer buy what we need or pray for.

Our behavior and priorities changed and

the world entered its new phase.

We now see better what is real, who is in

control, and who has the power.

But more importantly how insignificant we humans

are and why we need to change our ways.

INTRODUCTION

Until very recently, poetry never crossed my mind as an avenue I could use to express my views and feelings about life, living, and social issues. Being born in a country where poetry has a very long history and deep roots, I used to listen and memorize some famous poems, especially those carrying some philosophical views and life lessons.

I casually tried to write a poem for the fiftieth anniversary of my in-laws. That started something very different from anything in my life of over seventy years as a scientist, mathematics teacher, and researcher.

Today, after only a short period, I have written this and another poetry book in my mother tongue, Persian (Farsi). I do not know what to say or add to this other than the fact that I even surprised myself. Maybe because, in a way, there is a structural similarity between mathematics, which I love, and poetry. Mathematics uses the symbols and poetry uses words as building blocks, and in both, attempts are made to minimize the number of blocks needed.

The poems in this book are mostly about social issues, life experiences, and lessons. There are a few poems about mathematics that I could not resist to include. I am known for sharing jokes with my students, friends, and family. So I have included some of my regular jokes in the form of poems to break away from serious issues presented in other chapters. I hope you like them.

I have benefited a great deal from technology, especially the internet. Even though I tried hard, I was unable to find the origin of some of the jokes I have used. This is partly because jokes are usually modified by individuals who use or repeat them. In fact, I frequently modify cultural jokes to make them more relevant.

Poetry was the last avenue I could think of using to express myself,

an unfamiliar domain to describe my views about social issues and life itself.

Now to my own surprise, I am writing poems about such issues, my friends.

It feels like I was searching for a book that has always been on my own shelf.

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CHAPTER 1

Warm-Up

Happiness

Happiness could come by enjoying little things in life; that is the key.

Simple and obtainable things, like early

morning walks, a hot coffee or tea.

Happiness could be living in a country where you belong and feel free.

Happiness could be seeing beauty in things that

in the past you did not notice or see.

Happiness could be witnessing two lonely people

fall in love, live together, and become we.

Happiness could be enjoying things you have,

own, or can get for a small fee.

Happiness could be seeing the changes that

happen to your favorite things, like a tree.

Happiness could be talking or praying to the Lord

in a peaceful place while down on your knee.

Happiness could be swimming in a pool,

river, pond, ocean, or in a sea.

Happiness could be loving everybody and everything from A to Z.

Happiness could be whatever your heart and mind desire it to be.

These are my observations. If you disagree,

please share your ideas with me.

Growing Up

At three years old, Mommy, I love you.

At fourteen, Mom, whatever.

At sixteen, My mom is so annoying. At eighteen,

I am leaving this house forever.

At twenty-one, Mom, you were right. At twenty-

five, Mom, I want to come home. I miss you.

At thirty five, "I need your advice, Mom, I do not

know how you managed time, you know better."

At fifty, "I do not want to lose my mom. She is so dear

to me. I do not know what I was thinking."

At seventy, "I would give up everything to have my

mom here with me again; she was so dear.

Now all I can do is to think of her and teach it to my children if I can.

A great life lesson that formal education

cannot teach or explain further.

Paradox of Our Time

A Dedication to George Carlin

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; we do not ask why.

Wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; most of us frequently lie.

We spend more but have less, buy more but

enjoy less. This is now our lifestyle.

Buy bigger houses but have smaller families, more

conveniences but less desire to use them or passion to try.

More college degrees but less common sense, more

knowledge but less insight when it comes to judging.

More experts but fewer problem solvers, more medicine

but less wellness; we harm our bodies to get high.

We drink too much, smoke a lot, spend too

recklessly, yet laugh rarely or not at all.

Drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get

up too tired; we are quick to say goodbye.

We read too little, watch too much TV, change channels

frequently but hardly hold a conversation; we find it dull.

Have no longer set social values, we talk too much, love

very little but hate intensely till the day we die.

We know how to make a living but not a life,

make things larger but not better at all.

We have conquered outer space but not our own inner space

for we do not understand body and mind’s close tie.

We have cleaned up the air but polluted our souls, conquered the

atom but not our own prejudice; we have built a virtual wall!

We build more computers but communicate less. We rush. We do

not share our love; dress casually, hardly wear formal clothes and tie.

We have two-income families but a higher rate of divorce,

more money, less time for each other, more broken homes.

More fast foods, bigger portions, slow digestion, big mouth and small

brain, more ego, less mindfulness; we are no longer considerate or shy.

We use more disposable items, one-night stands, less accountability,

throwaway morality, quick changes, yet we do not know why.

Less seriousness, less care, less kindness, more selfishness,

greed—all to the level that makes a sensitive individual cry.

Adversity

Every adversity contains within it the seed of growth.

It offers an opportunity for winner and loser both.

For many it opens a door that was long closed.

It leads to progress, without creating a new pose.

Greatness

You do not have to be great to start, but have to start to be great.

All you need is to love what you do, give your best, and have faith.

There is no limit on what you can accomplish

but the one you set yourself.

So, set a goal, employ your strengths, and

put your mind in a positive state.

Confidence

What gains others confidence in you is the

confidence you have in yourself.

Self-confidence can do magic, it is a key to positivity and health.

Limit of self-confidence defines the limit of respect others will have for you.

So, avoid self-doubts as it is the only restraints

to gain that type of wealth.

Success

Success is stumbling from failure to failure without losing confidence.

Without the rain there would be no rainbow that is life’s real essence.

Smart people have no fear of perfection

knowing that they can never reach it.

They repeat the good again and again until

they become great as a consequence.

When

When am I going to live stress-free and enjoy my short life?

When am I going to have time, energy, and money to satisfy my wife?

When young, I had all except the money,

looking everywhere for it, near or far.

In my thirties and forties, became busy to make money,

pay the bills, and buy a sports car to drive.

By mid-sixties, I made enough money, but

I guess I sacrificed my health.

Now I am old, have repaired and replaced body

parts, and my only goal is to survive.

You Are Unique

Someone will always be prettier than you, my dear friends.

Someone will always be smarter than you, but that is not where it ends.

Someone will always be richer than you that is for sure.

Someone will always be more popular than

you in matters of style and stands.

Someone will always be happier than you; that is a fact of life.

Someone will always be in a better situation

than you in future and present.

Someone will always be a deeper thinker

than you, quicker to comprehend.

Someone will always be stronger than you,

able to lead and give the commands.

This can be easily continued, considering life’s

many other privileges and demands.

In conclusion, the point to remember is you are unique.

Others can never be you, even if they intend.

It Is Not All about Looks

Teach the little ones, including daughters, that it

is not all about being beautiful like a doll.

It is more about being bold, silly, strong, confident,

independent, and intelligent above all.

Let them know that real life is hard, unkind, complex,

unpredictable, uncertain, and sometimes unfair.

The beauty will fade away; she could become lonely, in need

of taking care of herself, and even get sick and fall.

Time with Loved Ones

Spend time with your loved ones; they are

not going to be around forever.

Say kind words to others before the next

time you see them becomes never.

Give others warm hugs, a treasure from your

heart, something positive and uplifting.

Say, I love you, to your partner and mean it if

you wish to be happy and stay together.

Hold hands and cherish the moments that may not be repeated.

Give time to love, to speak, and to share. Be there for

your loved ones; that is mindful and clever.

Family Prayer

Prayer alerts the enemies to your awareness of their intentions

It safeguards you from their attacks and possible stressful situations

Who is the enemy? Satan, the Devil, Lucifer,

temper, ruler of the world?

Maybe the princess of darkness, accuser, and

father of life that could create tension

Prayer is giving thanks and asking for what

we as single and group need.

We ask a higher power to defend us, we ask for once be an exception

Experience has shown that the families that pray

together stay together much longer

They become children of the light, winner of the

battle, often get God’s complete attention.

Life is a Gift

Life is a mystery to be lived, loved, and

experienced by getting up and showing

We are as good as dead if we slow down or

stop moving, learning, and growing

Life is the first gift we receive, love is the

second, and passion comes next

We need to maintain our curiosity and desire

for understanding and knowing.

Life is a Game

Life is all about playing a good game with

what is dealt including a poor hand

It is a lesson in humility, a promise with no

guarantee that is written on the