‘Haft Seen’ is a traditional custom for the Persian new year celebration known as Nowruz. A table is set with 7 different items which its essential items letters start with (Sin-Seen “س”). These are Sib – Apple, Sabze – Grass, Senjed – Sea-buckthorn, Serkeh – Vinegar, Samanu -a sweet paste made from germinated wheat, Somaq – Sumac and Seer – (Garlic) each with their own symbolic meaning.
The poem also references Dam Platz, a historical square in Amsterdam flanked by the Royal Palace and the National Memorial to the Dutch war dead.
This is part of our new rebranded weekly release: the Dual Poetry Podcast, one poem in two languages from the Poetry Translation Centre. As ever we will be releasing a translated poem each week.
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