al-majus

Love Poem to Gaza

alaleh mohajerani, 2023

I have loved you.

I have let your branches wrap their

olive arms around my arms

I have found myself bloodied in your nets,

burning in your music

I have forgotten I was there.

I have forgotten I was here.

It was night.

We built a ship.

And sailed the flood.

And great whales 

in nuun shapes

swam towards the stars.

And together we freed

all the little trembling doves

covered in ash and soot,

more doves than stars.

And I was freed too.

With the smallest branch

between my lips

But my shame 

My shame