Iran

The Revolution

The revolution is a rose—
petals blood-dew
thorns in flesh—

in a garden vast as homeland—

dips her petals in the pool of blood
and holds them up to the … Read more

The Pen

“Break the pens!”
The arch-Ayatollah said
And they did

Break the bones!

The man of God
is the man of death—

This is what has remained of
the mission of … Read more

To Zhina Amini

That day
a tired voice asks her
to free herself, dance under the city’s
weary sun.
She sings silently for freedom
and lets her beauty shine
across Tehran’s grey streets.… Read more

Why Are You Here?

for Sayeh (Shadow)

Poet
from the forest-covered mountains
you celebrated the land that jailed you
When the radio broadcast your patriotic song
your jail guards and cellmates asked,
“Why are … Read more