‘Anthology of Protest Poetry ‘ (Summer 2009 Iran)

‘Anthology of Protest Poetry “(Summer 2009 Iran) which will be available in Farsi soon, with English/Italian/Spanish translations shortly. This Project is a joint effort between Dr. Mahnaz Badihian (poet, educator and activist) and Azadeh Davachi (poet and translator). For any ideas, suggestions or questions please contact publisher@mahmag.org. Below is a poem from that Anthology titled ‘Tango in Evin’ by Azadeh Davachi.

Guantanamo or Evin
They are only words
That pass through the
Incomplete understanding of geraniums
…
Tango in Evin*

By Azadeh Davachi

Translated from Farsi by Mahnaz Badihian

This music has a good beginning,

Bach’s symphony or Beethoven,

Tango or Salsa

It doesn’t matter

What matters are minutes without oscillation

Which pass through music

In voiceless cells, you must

Start with unpleasant moves

Even if you are unicellular, without a head

Who is weary of lengthy days

Or a brain with no warden

That smells like slogans

It is a good beginning

If your mouth didn’t have a roof

And your jaw

Doesn’t tire from movement with music

Guantanamo or Evin

They are only words

That pass through the

Incomplete understanding of geraniums

You must dance

Until the final act

When someone says ‘Cut’

But you will not finish

With the last symphony

With pale bricks

You will dance the tango

* Evin is a notorious political prison in Tehran