I Gave Birth Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

I gave birth

I told her “I have to”
With patience she observed
That meant “What? ”
I went on “Prison, injustice”
Without word she looked as “Don’t we all? ”
I gave in, with silence
She went on
She told me of quest “Of women in Iran”
I had read first volume, the second had not come
“Do not write, ” her look said, then the words “if you can.”

Now here I observe
He’s moving with pizza
She’s reading nervously rocking legs, impatient
That one holds paper-board goes around “Will you sign? ”
I hear the voices, loud and low, different dialogues
And I think “I must write.”
She appears in my mind, same Shahla
The writer, large in size and in mind
We’re talking the same way; time was short, I recall.

While writing boy is gone, girl’s stopped
No pizza, no shaking of the legs
Pen stole sight and thought.

“Should I write or stop? ” I’m stuck.

Observing, not writing
Is woman, expecting
All dreams and fear
All plans and dread
“Is it a girl or a boy? ”
“Is healthy …? ”
She stops with horror.
“Hey he kicked.”
She shouts, calls
Her partner runs to watch
All ended after birth.