Formal Tears

‘Tis the form of friendship that inks spread on cheeks
‘Tis no metaphor , no ring
I'm a bit woman, a bit man , a bit cat
This is a camp
Every thing is unknown
Traffic of water , of bread!
mortars detonated – half arm , half leg
female Christ , male Christ
and the soil , the always neutral soil.
This is a camp
everything unknown
traffic of water , of bread and chewing water in prayer time
Hey girls , hurry up – I'm a bit woman , a bit cat
cats get pure with a spit
Body to the steam of tiles
Pure as angels who never took refuge in water
Hurry up girls – mortars are hungry
This is a camp
Traffic of men is near.
Now I'm a bit a man
don't run short of water
Men run short nowhere – in war , in bath , in bed
Shot up you bitch in the bath corner
I'm a bit a man
Now keep saying water water water!
Water is cold and war o so hot!
Now keep saying what baby holds a man
When that woman warms a puppy between her legs.
Shut up you bitch in the bath
I fear the sliding hug of all babes , but know how how to war
Now keep saying oil oil oil
The refinery does not reach all this way
This is a camp
Traffic of cats draws near
Now I'm a bit cat , a bit woman – purr …
War , go away! go away , war!
I want to deliver between grey blankets
Between formal coffins of grand mothers!
Where should I turn
Purr – mew , mew
Third of khordad 1360
I gave birth in the war – mew , mew
Third of khordad 1361
Formal tears
Khorrammshahr is liberated a bit.

Translation from Persian by Saeed Saeedpoor