On Hormoz Island's shores, a chapter ends,

A decade of life, where memories blend,

With sun-kissed sands and turquoise waves that sigh,

I bid adieu beneath the boundless sky.

Ten years of sunsets, painted crimson and gold,

On this island's beauty, my heart took hold.

Where fiery mountains met the azure sea,

A piece of my soul will forever be.

The vibrant bazaars, where colors ran free,

The laughter, the songs, the jubilant spree.

Hormoz, you embraced me, made me your own,

In your rugged beauty, my heart has grown.

The people, the culture, a tapestry so grand,

Ten years of life, where I came to understand,

The depth of this island, its stories untold,

In its warm embrace, my spirit found its fold.

As I sail away from your sacred shore,

A piece of my heart, forevermore,

Will remain with you, in every seashell's song,

Hormoz Island, where I truly belong.

Hadi Nasiri, San Francisco, CA, 2012

Montalvo, a haven 'neath California's sky,

Where art and nature in harmony lie,

A place where creativity takes flight,

In the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, oh so bright.

Amidst the oaks, with their branches wide,

Montalvo Art Center stands with pride,

A historic villa with gardens adorned,

Where inspiration's flame has brightly burned.

Sculptures hidden in the woods' green shade,

Whisper tales of artists who've here played,

In this sanctuary where muses meet,

The soul of creativity finds its beat.

The artists in residence, their talents bloom,

In Montalvo's studios, there's endless room,

For visions to flourish and dreams to soar,

Amongst these hills and by the valley's core.

Summer concerts echo through the air,

As laughter and applause blend with care,

At the Lilian Fontaine Garden Theatre's stage,

Montalvo's culture, a treasure for every age.

In this tranquil retreat where redwoods stand tall,

Montalvo Art Center welcomes all,

To explore, to imagine, to create, to share,

In this California gem, where art is in the air.

Hadi Nasiri, Montalvo Art Center, CA, 2012

In San Francisco's heart, with friends in tow,

Bobby and Andrea, where dreams freely flow,

We ventured forth to a Chinese delight,

A new restaurant beckoned on that vibrant night.

With chopsticks in hand, we sampled each dish,

Flavors that danced, a savory wish.

Dim sum and dumplings, a feast to recall,

In that cozy restaurant, within Chinatown's thrall.

Then, under the city's enchanting glow,

We explored the streets, with hearts all aglow.

Through alleys and markets, we strolled hand in hand,

In San Francisco's embrace, where cultures blend.

Cable cars climbed steep hills, their bells did chime,

As we journeyed through time, in this hilly clime.

At Fisherman's Wharf, we watched the seals play,

Their antics and laughter, under the sun's gentle ray.

Golden Gate Bridge, like a sentinel of old,

Stood proud and majestic, its story retold.

In the City by the Bay, adventures untold,

With Bobby and Andrea, our bonds ever bold.

From Lombard Street's twists to Alcatraz's tale,

In San Francisco's embrace, we set sail.

A trio of friends, in a city so grand,

In each other's company, we truly understand.

In the end, it's the memories we keep,

As we explored the city, awake and asleep.

San Francisco's magic, forever in view,

With Bobby and Andrea, and friendship anew.

Hadi Nasiri, San Francisco with Bobby and Andrea, 2012

Three days on a bus, in winter's cold embrace,

From Los Angeles to New York, a journey to embrace.

Across this wintry landscape, through snow and frost,

Our bus carries us eastward, no matter the cost.

As we leave sunny shores, palm trees in the rear,

Winter's icy fingers soon become clear.

Mountains draped in white, a pristine sight to behold,

The beauty of this season, a story to be told.

Through the heartland we roll, with blankets of snow,

The landscapes transforming with each mile we go.

Frost-kissed towns and frozen lakes we pass,

In this winter odyssey, a journey so vast.

Inside the bus, the warmth of camaraderie,

Strangers turned friends, in this mobile symphony.

Laughter and stories, like fireside tales,

As we navigate winter's trails and trails.

Through the heart of the country, we journey with grace,

From Los Angeles to New York, at a winter's pace.

Three days on this bus, through snow and through cold,

In this wintry adventure, our spirits unfold.

At last, the Big Apple's lights shimmer in sight,

A cityscape aglow, against the winter's night.

Three days of travel, through winter's domain,

In New York, our destination, our dreams we regain.

Hadi Nasiri, winter 2013

Amidst the bustling streets of Hudson City's embrace,

Where the Hudson River whispers tales of grace,

Skyscrapers reach for the heavens so high,

In the heart of New York, under the endless sky.

Yellow taxis weave through the urban stream,

In this city of dreams, where people chase their dream.

From Central Park's haven to Times Square's bright glow,

In Hudson City, there's always a vibrant flow.

Diverse cultures blend, a melting pot so grand,

A mosaic of languages from every land.

The Statue of Liberty stands tall and proud,

A beacon of freedom, her message is loud.

Broadway's stages, where stories come alive,

With actors who in the spotlight strive.

Museums and galleries, treasures untold,

In Hudson City's heart, creativity unfolds.

The aroma of street food fills the air,

As the city's rhythm pulses everywhere.

From Harlem to Brooklyn, and neighborhoods beyond,

Hudson City's spirit is forever fond.

In the city that never sleeps, the spirit's alive,

With ambition and hopes that continually thrive.

Hudson City, you're a tale to be told,

A metropolis of stories, both young and old.

Hadi Nasiri, New York City, 2014

In Manhattan's heart, a historic site stands tall,

The Westbeth building, a haven for all.

A beacon of art, creativity's lair,

In the heart of New York, a place so rare.

Once a bell factory, now transformed with grace,

Into artists' lofts, a vibrant space.

A canvas for dreams, where talents convene,

The Westbeth building, where art's unseen.

Writers, painters, dancers, their muses in tow,

In this creative sanctuary, their spirits aglow.

The walls whisper stories, the halls come alive,

With the passion of artists who strive and strive.

In its courtyard, a sculpture garden blooms,

A testament to the artists, their creative fumes.

The spirit of Ginsberg, Dylan, and more,

In Westbeth's history, their essence does soar.

From the Hudson's edge to the city's skyline,

Westbeth's legacy, a treasure to define.

In this haven of culture, where legends were born,

A tribute to art in every sunrise and morn.

So here's to Westbeth, in NYC's embrace,

A sanctuary for artists, a sacred place.

In the annals of creativity, you eternally reside,

The Westbeth building, where dreams coincide.

Hadi Nasiri, Westbeth building, NYC, 2017