Asleep Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Asleep

On pavement
-somewhere there in Tehran
-rainy, shined in the light
-sleeps girls
-in front
-near head
-fallen on the tiles
-lay her goods
-she is panhandler
-has no mask but matches
-unlike me when selling mask of cat
-and shouting to inform customers
-I too was small child
-on alley of Mehran
-Laleh Zar

I feel her
-feel shy and
-embarrassed
-government has eyes to
-see scarf on her head and if not
-arresting and taking…punishment…
-but no one sees her pain
-no one cares for her needs
-shame people of Tehran
-shame to all in Iran
-most of all to those who
-claim the leadership
-small; large
-they too are the same shit
-the shit that we risked life
-to remove but lost fight
-yes we lost
-removed shit to have fun
-fun is killed
-shit grown into pile…
-but people are silent…
-out of need?
-of fear Trump-likes?
-and B. S. on their mind?
-Stink all palaces of power…