Mahnaz Badihian Oba

Guantanamo or Evin
They are only words
That pass through the
Incomplete understanding of geraniums
……

With a few simple words he said
“I hope you’re not tired my love”
And I was so happy that someone
understood my weariness
it felt like a sugar cube melting in my heart.
…………………………….

There are women who will go to bed
With their lover with my body
And they will talk and kiss with my lips
They will talk with my voice
…….

Our green whisper
In your young body falls sleep
But our resonance will increase
And multiply in number day by day
…
Neda is the 26 year Old Iranian demonstrator who was killed on the streets of Tehran by the Basij

Instead of denying our rights, we need to spend energy to perfect our rightsI can share my loveWith windWith rosesWith thorns With whoever makes meFeel in loveI ask the wind, “will you blow my kissesTo the other side of the riverTo the one not given the chanceTo pass the water”To the only one my eyes can […]

My soul belongs to nowhere any moreI am like a loose leafTraveling headless Cave  I live in this big cage Big and beautifulWired with securityCovered with tall rough fenceEnclosed with tall locked doorsWhere neighbors are strange I live in this city whereFear is hidden everywhereFear of policeFear of neighborsFear of loose sex offendersFear of a gun […]

Unexpectedly, sun is rising on your shoulders As you come from a long road of battle Mahnaz Badihian (Oba)——-Unexpectedly, sun is rising on your shoulders As you come from a long road of battleWhile the blood is flowing from our earsWith the bad news penetrating day by day in our soulWhile sorrow caves in on our lips and […]

I am difficult, like your tresses;Like your tresses, I am rebellious.—–Translated from Farsi by Mahnaz Badihian and John Timpane Rumi Ghazal 36  Heart’s desire, come no matter; show your face. O intention, o result, come no matter; show your face. I am difficult, like your tresses;Like your tresses, I am rebellious. Problem-solver, come no matter; […]

Victoriously we decided to win When we trashed all the paradox andLooked at the brightness around usWhere we can test freedom and love—–Marin Poetry Center contributors to the latest anthology will be reading from their works.Contributors include:Mahnaz Badihian, Ellen Bass, Karen Benke, Claire Blotter…….. Mafia of Loveby; Mahnaz badihian When I wake upSleeplessness grabs meAnd my […]

It is so sad my dear comrades that
The darkness of human deceit 
Has damaged the beauty of trust
………….

Dedicated to Iranian-American poet Mahnaz Badihian Say, how many wings of a doveHas been broken in this voice? And how many nights and exiles have trickled on it drop by drop?That even the smoke of the burnt nests never let my heart alone. Say, which lovebird, again,Face to face with its own graveIn line with the […]

Poets from around the world attended including: Mahnaz Badihian (American-Iranian),Massimo Sannelli (Italy), Mani Rao (Hong Kong, China), Lana Derkac (Croatia), Patrick Cotter (Ireland), Gerry Murphy (Ireland), Tae Ho Han (Korea), Roberto Piperno (Italy), and Peter Waugh (Austria).  The Kritya International Poetry Festival concluded in India on July 23, 2007.  [ClickPress, Thu Jul 26 2007] The festival […]