My homeland soldier
is now a fighter
who shoots his hungry brother in the heart
when the world is asleep
My homeland soldier
is now a knight
who drags his sister
on the ground by her braids
when the world is blind
My homeland soldier
is now a warrior
who kicks the grieving mothers in the mouth
with his boots
when the world does not want to hear
My homeland soldier
is now a noble hero
thrusting his bayonet
into the throats of fathers
tired of life for lack of bread
when the world is in the dark
My homeland soldier
is now hireling of the thieves
obedient to criminal commands
slave to rampant greed and lust
My homeland soldier
is now a pawn
on the chess board of blood and grief
And I know
that one day my homeland soldier
will lay his weapon down
to become the chess vizier—
to become my brother again
سرباز میهن من امروز
جنگجویست
که به قلب برادر گرسنه اش شلیک میکند
وقتی جهان خواب است
سرباز میهن من امروز
دلاوریست
که خواهران سرزمینش را
از گیسوان گرفته بر زمین می کشد
وقتی جهان کور است
سرباز میهن من امروز
صلحشوریست
که با پوتین بر دهان مادران داغدیده میکوبد
وقتی جهان نمیخواهد که بشنود
سرباز میهن من امروز
پاکبازیست
که سرنیزه اش را
در گلوی پدرانی فرو میکند
که از غم نان به جان آمده اند
وقتی جهان خاموش است
سرباز میهن من امروز
مزد بگیر دزدان است
گوش به فرمان تبهکاران
غلام افسار بریدگان حرص و هوس
سرباز میهن من امروز
سرباز پیاده ی
شطرنج خون و رنج است
و میدانم
که سرباز میهن من فردا
سلاح بر زمین میگذارد
تا وزیر شطرنج شود
تا دوباره برادرم شود
The poet:
Mohammad Reza studied Graphics at the College of Arts, Tehran University, and has since been working as a graphic artist, painter, and illustrator. He has participated in biennales, and group and solo exhibitions. Mohammad wrote and illustrated three stories for children that have remained unpublished due to censorship in Iran.
The translator:
Bänoo Zan is a poet, librettist, translator, teacher, editor and poetry curator, with more than 200 published poems as well as three books, including Songs of Exile and Letters to My Father. She is the founder of Shab-e She’r, Toronto’s most diverse poetry reading and open mic series (inception: 2012).