Mana Aghaee

I am a woman, twenty-eight years old
with strange habits and mistakes
as big as myself
who brushes her teeth morning to
morning, sits behind an office
desk and escapes her
sorrows by reading the classifieds.

I have endured many storms
I respect the rights of all
–even human–animals
I prefer the agony of reaching
a goal to passing pleasantries
I object to entertainment cinema:
short skirts and high
heels rob a person of thinking time.

My god is kind
He created hell to torment my conscience
I have accepted being
human for all its drawbacks
Viagra helps us continue
In this world that leaks chemical fire
you’d have to be foolish
to dream of becoming an angel and
sew wings to your wounded shoulders.

The man I search for must
subscribe to my beliefs
He should not live in his head nor
turn the other cheek to any bully
I have two criteria for him:
one, that he should never tire of going
two, that he should obey only his shoes.

Read the original Persian poem here.