I can’t compete with Ferdowsi
\nand compose a Shahname;
\nNor can I compete with Aeschylus
\nand write you a play.<\/p>\n
\u0399 can’t compose fifty thousand couplets
\nand ninety-nine chapters you will not see;
\nBut I was asked to contribute to your Festschrift
\neven though an academic I was not fated to be.<\/p>\n
When they asked me to contribute
\nI had no idea what it meant;
\nBut I googled it immediately
\nand gave my consent.<\/p>\n
Our friendship has spanned forty-three years
\nand you still look the same (and so do \u0399);
\nSo in celebration of your beauty
\nI will honor your name.<\/p>\n
I still can’t say why we met
\nthe very way that we did;
\n\u0391 WASP and a Jew studying Arabic
\nIt was really quite taboo.<\/p>\n
We loved to torture Merlin
\nhe really was a hoot;
\nBut he did teach us Arabic
\nand some Islamic literature to boot.<\/p>\n
That’s where we met Margaret
\nwe had a very small class;
\nShe fell in love with D.
\nthat neo-con ass.<\/p>\n
You were an elite
\nyou spoke French and German too;
\nYou even could draw
\noh, what couldn’t you do?<\/p>\n
\u0399 was in awe of your beauty
\nand your alternative way of life;
\n\u0399 was fascinated by your family history
\nthat sometimes was filled with strife.<\/p>\n
We were inseparable
\nwe hung out nearly every day;
\nWe went to gay and trans bars
\nand disco danced the night away.<\/p>\n
We loved to go shopping
\nand gad about town;
\nWe had several groupies
\nwho followed us around.<\/p>\n
You fell in love with Herb
\nwe didn’t pronounce the \u0397;
\nI think he was gay
\nBecause he was oblivious to the chase.<\/p>\n
We thought he was sophisticated
\nthe sexiest guy around;
\nBut when we visited his apartment
\nit was the dirtiest dump in town.<\/p>\n
We were wild and crazy
\nbut very smart as well;
\nWe shared all our secrets
\nSome I cannot tell.<\/p>\n
And then we moved to Cambridge
\nto pursue a higher degree;
\nAnd soon you met Greg
\nwhen you were only twenty-three.<\/p>\n
You said that you were getting married
\nI thought you were insane;
\nBut you knew what you were doing
\nand with whom you would remain.<\/p>\n
At first it was intimidating
\nGreg was older and brilliant too;
\nBut he won us all over with his charm and his derring-do,
\n(Derring-do you might say,
\nYes, he married you!)<\/p>\n
You gave him a wedding present
\ndare I disclose;
\nHe got a peek at my breasts
\npainted and sans clothes.<\/p>\n
Sarah and you were tattoo artists
\nuntrained experts in body art;
\nBut it enhanced the whole experience
\nand it came from the heart.<\/p>\n
We were one big family
\nStuart, Sarah, Joseph me and you;
\nBut our favorite was Richard
\nHe was gay, but who knew.<\/p>\n
When I reflect on all the laughter
\nand the deep affection that we shared;
\nI’m nostalgic for that time in our life
\nWhen things were simple and free of strife.<\/p>\n
You moved to Princeton
\nand studied Arabic and Farsi too;
\nI stayed at Harvard
\nand tried to be an academic like you.<\/p>\n
We talked on the telephone
\nlate into the night;
\nI missed having you close
\nBut Richard played the host.<\/p>\n
The years flew by quickly
\nwe went our separate ways;
\nBut you were always part of my history
\nAnd my carefree younger days.<\/p>\n
You gave birth to Laszlo
\nand then Antonia aka Toni came along;
\nYou were a PhD and a mother
\nYou made it seem easy as a song.<\/p>\n
You became a professor
\nAt Brandies and Boston U;
\nAn expert on the Shahnameh
\nand you created the Ilex foundation too.<\/p>\n
Even when we went for long periods
\nwithout communicating at all;
\nThe distance soon evaporated
\nafter just one long telephone call.<\/p>\n
We consulted over the years
\nabout family and children woes;
\nIt wasn’t always easy
\nbut we handled it like pros.<\/p>\n
Greg and you shared children
\nwho were not always easy to raise;
\nYou were more laissez-faire
\nGreg tried to be sage,<\/p>\n
Toni was a terror
\nLaszlo didn’t want to talk;
\nBut Toni gave you Adelia
\n\u0391 princess to take on your walk.<\/p>\n
Toni became a writer
\nand married a talented man;
\nThey stayed close by in Dublin
\nand Wes often gives you a hand.<\/p>\n
You rolled with the punches
\nalways optimistic to a fault;
\nBut that just kept you beautiful
\na lesson on how not to let life be fraught.<\/p>\n
Greg and you shared your professional lives
\nloving ancient language, poetry and prose;
\nThrough your contributions,
\nto the top of your fields you rose,<\/p>\n
Your many homes are elegant
\n\u0391 tribute to your style and taste;
\nI love to visit them all
\nAnd relish in your grace.<\/p>\n
Whether in Boston, Dublin or Washington
\nyou are the grand dame of your domain;
\nYou are the hostess with the mostess
\nand a visit with you is never boring or tame.<\/p>\n
Dear dear Holly
\nyou have aged without a hitch;
\nI can’t believe you don’t use botox
\nor haven’t had a stitch (are you sure?).<\/p>\n
I still remember your belly dancing
\nwe all had to take a lesson too;
\nBut only you could master it
\nYou see, there really is no one quite like you!<\/p>\n
We both share a love for politics
\nwe are progressive to our core;
\nWe didn’t see Hillary make it
\nBut you’ve convinced me this means war.<\/p>\n
You were born with a silver spoon
\nMerck and Clyde’s restaurant made you flush;
\nBut instead of eating bonbons
\nyou’ve made a difference for all of us.<\/p>\n
You are very very loyal
\nyou have a forgiving heart;
\nYou put things in perspective
\nand believe people can make a new start.<\/p>\n
You hold your siblings together
\nand keep everyone in line;
\nYou step up to the plate for their children
\nwhenever they are having a hard time,<\/p>\n
And then there is your mother
\nyou held her while she died;
\nDespite the hard times she gave you
\nat the end, you remained true and tried.<\/p>\n
We just spent a magical day together
\nlearning history and discussing politics and TV;
\nWe’ve watched the world change dramatically
\nbut girls at heart we will always be.<\/p>\n
And that is why \u0399 love you
\nAnd I’m glad you’re in my life
\nYou’re my friend forever
\nHappy Birthday scholar, mother, grandmother, sister and wife.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ode to Olga aka Holly I can’t compete with Ferdowsi and compose a Shahname; Nor can I compete with Aeschylus and write you a play. \u0399 can’t compose fifty thousand couplets and ninety-nine chapters you will not see; But I was asked to contribute to your Festschrift even though an academic I was not fated … <\/p>\n