بحث پس از مرگ شاه – شعری از مجید نفیسی

Debate Only After the Death of Shah!

        By Majid Naficy

Do you remember, my dear comrade,

The bitter story of our epoch?

It was the time of happiness

The spring of liberty in our revolution.

The market of debates was hot

Over the issue of “disarmament”

On every crossroad

Between home and university.

Suddenly the Party of God arrived, chanting:

Debate only after the death of Shah!

Head scarf or head blow!

That was the edict of the leader.

So, expressions were suppressed

Neighborhoods became masculine.

The women protested

But our leftists did not support them,

Especially the non-independent left

Who was infatuated with this slogan:

The only enemy is America

Debate only after the death of Shah!

Ayandegan Newspaper was closed

And pens were broken.

Intolerance and hatred

Plagued our nation.

Reason lost credibility

And conformity became standard.

Freedom-seekers joined together 

And blocked the streets.

The Party of God threw rocks, shouting:

Debate only after the death of Shah!

What happened in our society

First took place within us.

For the sake of unity

We killed the thought of pluralism.

On the pretext of fighting enemies

We aimed at friends.

Dissenters were terrorized

And freedom was suppressed

Along with these promises:

Debate only after the death of Shah!

        January 22, 1987