DEDICATION

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I try to not read anything about those days, because my heart can't handle it anymore.  I think about these brave people everyday.  I hope at lease their family would see a free Iran

Roohash Shad

There was a day in Iran that you would rarely hear about the death of a young person, and if it would've happened, for yrs people were talking about it. Since this nalein be pa zahake zamaneh Khomeini came to power, our cemeteries are filled with young people.

Dorood bar Omidreza

And all Martyrs of the struggle for freedom and secularism in Iran. They will never die, they will always be in our hearts and minds. 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Front line warriors

Him and others like him are front line freedom warriors, they will be remember for their courage

Rohash shad 

Anhahid Hojati and Nazy Kaviani

I would like to express my admiration for both of you for remembering Omid Reza and his exemplary courage on the anniversary of his brutal murder by this blood thirsty regime. 

At the same time I am appalled that only two people have bothered to post a comment to commemorate his life. He died not long before Neda Agha Soltani and like Neda and the countless of other young Iranians  whose lives were cut down by this terrorist regime during the summer of 2009 he deserves a fitting tribute. 

Rest in Peace, Omid. May your murderers be brought to justice. 

Dear Leila, what a heartfelt and great poem you have shared.

Dear Leila, your poem talks about all of us, all of us

مهاجر خیانتکار

Your poem speaks to me where you write:

نمی گریم
به خاطر نبودنم در اوین
زیر برجهای ولنجک و میان ستاره های لاستیکی
 و لای دندانهای کثافت بسیج
و آلودگی نود و هشت درصدی هوای مانده ی تهران!
نمی گریم
من مهاجری خیانتکارم
گاهی به امیدرضا میرصیافی فکر می کنم
به تاولهای خیابان ها از رفت و آمد خوب هایی که به خاک رفته اند
به تابستان هشتاد و هشت
و هرکسی که گفت "مرگ بر دیکتاتور"
و این

Except that I did not know Omid but I knew others who were like him and that is why just like you,

 فکر می کنم
به تاولهای خیابان ها از رفت و آمد خوب هایی که به خاک رفته اند

Beautiful poem and so true. Thanks for sharing.

Dear Leila,

It is absolutely wonderful to have you back in these parts. It is bittersweet to read your impeccable reflection into our hearts, so close and yet so far away from Iran and all that matters within.

This young man's life and death has touched me beyond words, too. How brilliant and young and full of life he was, and how senselessly he lost his precious life.

Your look at things, as usual, is a little different and yet, a lot different in your expressive ways, for you are gifted with the sentiments and words that create magical poetry.

Won't you come back to the Bay Area for a reading anytime soon?

Here's my little non-poem which I wrote for Omid Reza in March 2009. Peace and love to you, to Omid Reza's family, and to Iran.

In memory of Iranian blogger, Omidreza Mirsayafi, 1981-2009

Child of mine

20 March 2009

Aah, child of mine
The music lover
The poetry worshipper
Clever and bright
Handsome and fair
Passionate and kind

I had heard about Gitmo,
I had heard about Abu Ghraib,
But I knew about Evin,
I knew

Why didn’t I know the danger
Following you to ward 209?
Why didn’t I protest?
Why didn’t I write?
Why didn’t I scream?
Before they said
You were gone?

Could my voice
Have reached you?
Could my words
Have saved you?
Could my hands have reached out, and
Freed you?
Could I have given you
To your mother,
For Nowruz?

What about the others?
Are they waiting for me?
Am I to do something?
Won’t you tell me what?
Won’t you tell me how?

Aah, child of mine
You leave me a heavy burden
The burden of conscience
The burden of knowledge
The burden of truth

And on Nowruz,
I push ahead

With the burden of you.

Dedicated to the memory of Iranian blogger, Omidreza Mirsayafi, 1981-2009.