In support of Iran's Green movement and the June 12, 2010 anniversary of the fraudulent election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


The Green of Iran

Sholeh Wolpé

No departures here.

In Tehran out and in are closed,

under and over, stained.

Yet how green is the green of her sky.

The clouds bleed this green,

green the river, fields of rice,

the moss that grows

on Alborz mountain rocks.

The earth births this green

that the ants carry through

the cracks of Evin's walls.

The birds defecate green

on the turbans of bearded men.

Green is the green of this land,

the poplars lining parks,

green inked letters of lovers

holding hands in dark alleys

where green is the color of eyes,

the smell of dust swept clean.

Green is the ears of geraniums

on windowsills, and feet

of roses in backyards,

and the color of ponds

populated with green-

scaled fish, and frogs who sing

to the night dreams of green.

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