Sweat / Mahnaz Badihian

Long time ago I was only a seed

growing up in a far land

thinking I will root there forever.

But I ended up pollinating in strange  lands

next to Mississippi river, where once I lived.

Next to red wood trees

where Native Americans lived.

where i sweat with them in moonlight

next to the burning sage

under the thick tent covering the red, hot stones.

Maybe I did not meditate enough with them

in dark  while reciting Tankashala

but I feel connected to fire

to wet smell of ground and aroma of sage

As long as I live on this earth

no matter which land I end up pollinating each year

I can connect to people around me, with

one theme and that is “sweat”.