Learn from this tree:
It offers its bountiful canopy of shade
Over your head
Rain or shine; Rain or shine
No matter whence
You come to it; And it never,
Not even out of innocent curiosity,
Sizes you up:
“Hey stranger! Where are you from?”
–by Esma’il Kho’i
translated by Niloufar Talebi
♦
From Belonging: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World, edited and translated by Niloufar Talebi © 2008. Poem copyright Esma’il Kho’i, English translation copyright Niloufar Talebi. Reprinted with permission of North Atlantic Books (northatlanticbooks.com).