Iran

The last of a family of protestors goes head to head with the Iranian regime.

Iran

In 1999, they closed the newspaper Salam
Any kind of reform, they said was haram
In the protests that later rocked Iran
My father was shot dead in Tehran

In 2009, from Mir Mausavi, they stole the election
Ahmadiniejad was elected to everybody’s dejection
The green protest that followed
My brother’s life swallowed

In 2022, Masha Amini, by the police, was arrested
The decree to cover her head, she had resisted
Her death in custody sparked protests that spread far
My sister died of baton wounds, setting for me a high bar

In 2026, Israel and the US bombed Iran’s nuclear facility
The rial fell drastically and gone was our purchasing ability
There was no clean water to drink, no food to eat
Gas and electricity had gone; people were beat

Those who wanted reform and those for liberation
Came together with those who wanted revolution
And this is where begins my story
You see, this is my time for glory

I have been taking part in protests day in and day out
Shouting “Death to the dictator” in a frenzied bout
Setting fire to the hoardings of the monster in Iran
Our daredevilry is being talked of as far as Tehran

Burning government buildings, we near our destination
The police headquarters of the city of my birth, Abadan
I can see them taking careful aim with their machine guns
I remind myself that the blood of my kin in my body runs

Even as others falter in their steps, I surge ahead
“Death to the dictator,” I shout and raise my head
I look to the sky where my father and siblings wait for me
As I look at the cops again, I can hardly believe what I see

I hear “Death to the dictator” ahead as I run
The captain of the police is lowering his gun
I hear other cops shout “Death to the dictator”
The other police officers also their guns lower

My friends who had lagged issue further
The cops and protestors come together
“This is the last battle. Pahlavi will return,” we shout as one
The end of Ayatollah Khomeini’s regime has just begun