Neda Soltani
2009 June 22
Warning: This video is unbelievably graphic and horrific.
Neda Soltani was shot dead on Saturday, while protesting with her father music teacher in Tehran. Her death is not being reported by the state-controlled media inside the country. She was the same age as me.
I needed to post a revised copy of my poem for Neda. At a moment of tragedy, a poet can lose his way…with words and grammar.
THE VOICE OF NEDA SOLTANI
(For The Iranian People)
Her beautiful face and voice speak to us
in the streets, on the rooftops of Tehran,
O Neda, O Neda!
Voice of the stars, voice of the earth, voice of the people…
Your death is not in vain,
Where you have fallen, the street is swelling
with protesters who have taken up your banner.
Who will ever forget seeing you die bravely
among those marching in rage against the dictator,
against the tyrannies in your country!
Your name is now the “call” to humanity,
It is our voice for all time.
Luis Lazaro Tijerina
Burlington, Vermont
This is a poem for Neda Soltani
THE VOICE OF NEDA SOLTANI
(For The Iranian People)
Her beautiful face and voice speaks to us
in the city squares, on the rooftops of Tehran,
O Neda, O Neda!
Voice of the stars, voice of the earth, voice of the people…
Your death is not forsaken.
Where you have fallen, the street is swelling…
with protesters who have taken up your banner.
Who will ever forget seeing you die bravely
among those marching in rage against the dictator,
against all the tyrannies in your country!
Your name is now the “call” to humanity,
It is our voice for all time.
Luis Lazaro Tijerina
Burlington, Vermont