je suis

je suis

these were the first words i uttered as a child

in a french school, in a muslim country, in iran

je suis afshine

i left that land of kings, of poets, of miniature art, of silk

je suis malade

i forgot the language, escaped the country, because

je suis kosher

je suis w

but now sheltered in the arms of lady liberty,

i read of death, of destruction, of terror,

against words, cartoons, and bread,

je suis désolé

je suis charlie

my God said Je Suis Qui Je Suis

but the rest of us will not be

until we are for each other

who are you

qui êtes-vous