Exchange Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Exchange

When we were children
-gums were firm armaments
-sure, teeth raced jackhammers

We, ourselves, taught devils
-ate fruits off trees and sun-ripe
-tired, whined, complained branches

The milk came from sheep, goat or cow
-daily and each moment, warm fresh
-and bread? Hot from the oven; no package
-broke seeds and the nuts as do the squirrels

Now, cotton sits in mouth
-claiming to be teeth
-and the gums are sponge
-over used, old-ruin.
-we need more saliva
-to pave road for bread
-as truck pours the salt
-on snow and the ice

To such life one must gift
-good brakes
-such brakes that can change
-life to death

Old must die
-earlier the better
-let's leave life
-for others who deserve
-to have fun with love, sex

Useless is the claim:
- "Old is gold"
-old is shit
-and worthless
-old is shit
-and burden
-old is shit
-and must go