Poetry in Translation

 So Lonely Among All My Assorted Parents

By September 13, 2022No Comments

“after work, come right home,”

My old man and ma told me

“this evening we are going out to ask for so-and-so’s daughter’s hand for you.”

I consulted my down there and the response was: Nope

“when you’re done with your tour of duty,

We’ll take your hand and take you along to ask for your cousin’s hand..”

My pop and mom said to me

I consulted my down there and the response was: Nope

“select one from the bunch of pretty girls to go to college with,”

Said my mom and my dad, “one that comes from a good family.”

I consulted my down there and the response was: Nope

Mommy and daddy said to me,

“There are so many gorgeous girls out there in the neighborhood, on the streets, at your parties.

Pick one”

I consulted my down there and the response was: Nope

Mommy and daddy said,

Now that you’re going abroad

find a beautiful girl there

so we can have a blue-eyed grandchild, will you?”

I consulted my down there and the response was: Nope

My fathers and my mothers

Have been breeding canaries with ravens

I consulted my down there and the response was, no, not I

I am one painted raven whom god has sold to my parents,

rather expensive

When I looked hard and long at all the   painteds   I found

so lonely am I among all the fathers and mothers


Hamseresht
2007
Translated by Sina Gillani
To be published in a collection of Farsi Gay Poetry

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