“L A N D A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T” by Nasim Asgari

Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets' daily poetry dispatch. Read "L A N D    A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T" by Nasim Asgari.


L A N D    A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T

By Nasim Asgari

From Tehran, From Tigray to T’karonto

Politics back home tastes like crocheted blankets.

Our people on different continents, struggling

differently but struggling still, a crocheted blanket.

We fell in love on occupied lands of Mississaugas

of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudnosaunee

& Wendat. Collapsing into each other. Walnut skin stains.

A cactus pear. Mouth made dry by confused news

thick like our fathers’ tongues. He consumes my saffron

ice cream. I beg for his kitfo & adas. Injera & ghormeh

sabzi we plan to raise solid hearts, pomegranate seeds.

Our families separated by borders. In Tigrinya the word

for “love” is the same word for “thought” in Farsi.

My love for him boundless, yet logical. I orthodox

into a body he holds onto my tasbih, clit to cock

maybe we can set our people free.


Copyright © Nasim Asgari

Tehran-born, Tkaronto-based Nasim Asgari is a dreamer, thinker, seeker and student of the truth. A multidisciplinary artist and arts educator – songwriting, poetry, media arts and performance at the core of her practice. Writing since 9 and performing from 12, she's cultivated a voice and words to relay the truth. More than ever, she writes with a sense of urgency as a mother. Her songwriting can be heard on MIZAN, available on all streaming platforms.


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