O WEARY ANGELS

“O weary angels,
don’t look at me with those eyes.
If that is your state
then what of our cries?
What can I tell you of goodness
that you don’t already know?
What can I tell you of faith,
of hope and love
that you yourselves bestow?
O angels,
don’t pluck another feather,
this isn’t the sky,
it’s just the weather.
Please, angels, try.
We are one all together.
Look up and listen,
I’ll say it once and then put down my pen:
We are sorry for our ignorance
and even though we are worldly,
it might happen again.
We are sorry for your weariness
and even though you aren’t worldly,
we are no more than human.”

Kamand Kojouri

A POETESS IS NOT SELFISH

“A poetess is not as selfish
as you assume.
After months of agonising
over her marriage of words—the bride—
and spaces—the groom,
she knows that as soon
as she has penned the poem,
it’s yours to consume.
So, without giving it a think,
she blows on the ink
and the letters fly away
like dandelions on a windy day,
landing on hands and lips,
on hearts and hips.
But more often than not,
you can easily spot
them trodden and forgotten,
becoming sodden and rotten.
Yet, she will continue to make
what’s others to take
because selfishness
is not the mark of a poetess.”

Kamand Kojouri

DOES GOD KNOW?

“Does God know
the number of kisses
before we fall in love?
Yesterday, I was nobody
and I believed myself important.
Today,
I feel my worth
in you.
You, with your emerald eyes and ebony hair,
even your heartbeat is beautiful.
You, who is my greatest joy,
all other concerns vanish in your presence.
You swallow time
and consume space,
inspiring all my passion
with a single embrace.
I love your existence.”

Kamand Kojouri

FELL IN LOVE FIRST

“Fell in love first,
fell in love quickly—like I was pushed.
Fell in love next,
fell in love slowly—like I was strolling.
Falling in love now
and feeling crazy.
Thinking of closing my eyes
and jumping.”

Kamand Kojouri

EYES AND EARS ARE TWO

“Eyes and ears are two.
Lungs and kidneys, too.
I wonder then
why we’re born with one
heart that skips a beat when hay is here,
and beats quickly when you are near.
One heart that cracks when you are far,
lie to me and leave a scar.
I wonder then
why we’re born with one
heart that’s easily broken.
Was I supposed to find you then?
So your heart would make one
plus one is
two
for me
and two for you.”

Kamand Kojouri

O Woman

“O woman,
father says natural is beautiful
so why do you redden your cheeks
and blacken your eyes?
Why do you remove the hair on your legs
and draw them into your brows?
Why do you hold your breath
lest your stomach show
and hold your fart
lest they know
that you’re a human? O woman,
father says natural is beautiful
so why do you straighten your hair
to curl it next
and pretend to orgasm
so they think you enjoyed the sex?
Why do you dumb yourself down
and push up your breasts?
Why do you smile when you’re told to
and love when you don’t want to?
When? When
will you stop, woman?
Father says natural is beautiful
but that is doubtful
for what does father know
he’s only a fellow.”

Kamand Kojouri

“Retrospect: the sweetener of life.”

Kamand Kojouri

“Prejudice is an act of violence.”

Kamand Kojouri

“Life is short; love is longer.”

Kamand Kojouri