Sketches of Iran
Sketches of Iran
By Esther Kamkar
Mahsa Amini
2000-2022
The headscarf was loosely worn
her hair emanated sexual energy
inflaming passions tempting men
to sin to spill their seed in vain
it was the waves of her hair
the locks of her black hair.
___________________________
Hands in Tehran
My dark stained small hands
that peeled fresh walnuts
and saved the white flesh
for marble pyramids
have since whitened
in their longing
for a cherry tree
to climb.
I look back at the roads
cluttered with broken pyramids
dried nails of dahlia petals
and crushed earrings of cherries.
Afraid of becoming robed
in black like a crow
with the fingers and face of a woman,
How can I go home?
Esther Kamkar is an Iranian-American poet. She has published three books of poetry: of such things, Hum of Bees, and Hummingbird Conditions. She lives in Northern California.