Maryam Nayeb Yazdi

I was awake for almost two days during Tasoa and Ashura working on by-the-hour news updates for Persian2English.com. I wrote Chasing Freedom on December 29, 2009 after allowing the heartbreaking and intense emotions of an Iranian activist I finished having a conversation with rule me.

Chasing Freedom

You go after freedom to be one
to feel whole in a world that left you alone
a world that didn't guide properly
a world that made it hard to see.

But now you see opportunity
amidst all the impurity 
hoping to be with freedom
a nonexistent freedom
that you are able to feel 
but not able to touch 
or taste.

All the same
you want it
more than you want yourself. 

- Maryam Nayeb Yazdi

Image created by Aida D.