"herbs in my hands culled in those woods beyond the wall"

by Forugh Farrokhzad
translated by Jascha Kessler with Amin Banani

I’ll greet the sun once more—
that stream running in me
those clouds unfurling my thoughts
pangs of the growing poplar grove
through the seasons of drought
crows flying with me
offering the scent
of their fields at night
my mother who showed me my old age
in the mirror where she lived
and the earth, swollen with greening seeds,
lusting to make me again—
I’ll greet them all

I’ll come I’ll come I’ll come
my hair trailing its underground scents
my eyes heavy variations of darkness
herbs in my hands culled in those woods beyond the wall

I’ll come I’ll come I’ll come
and the gate will be all love
and those who loved
and that girl waiting there still
in the gate of love—I’ll greet them all once more

from Another Birth and Other Poems by Forugh Farrokhzad. Translated and illustrated by Jascha Kessler with Amin Banani. 2010.

Art: Women’s Acoma Cape or Dress, Acoma, Native American, ca 1850, public domain image