'Through love, thorns become roses' - a special Persian poetry session

Afrocats led a special project where poems written by our Persian-speaking writing group was led by Mahboobeh Rajabi.

Activity 1: Reflect on positive feelings and looking after ourselves both mentally and physically, during lockdown, and writing or thinking about a 2-3 sentence poem.

The group also shared their favourite Persian poetry, for which Iran is famous for.

Helen:

از محبت خارها گل می شود

Through love thorns becomes roses

Samaneh:

آرامش

قدم‌زدن در طبیعت آرامش را به من هدیه می دهد

Peace

Walking in nature, brings peace

as a gift to me

Nooshin:

گرمای حمایتگری

وقتی صدای نوازش گرانه ی خواهرم را می شنوم

The warmness of protection

When I hear my sister's touching voice

Najmeh:

نفس مادرم

حضور مادرم

جان می دهد، سبز می کند ،شور می دهد

My mum's breath

My mum's existence

Gives life, Makes it Green

Gives it joy

Hoorieh:

موفقیت

سلامتی

و خشنودی بچه هایم شادابی من است

Success

Health

That's my joy, the happiness of my children

Activity 2:

After creating characters in drama session, write some poetry from the point of view of their characters, again with the focus of looking after oneself during lockdown:

Samaneh:

موفقیت

پله های ترقی و احساس غرور

در بند بند وجودم

Success

Walking up the development stairs

Feeling proud in every part of my body

Helen:

مادر یعنی زندگی، مادر یعنی عشق

مادر شاهکار خلقت خداوند

ترکیبی از لطافت و استحکام

از خود گذشتگی

لطافت یک زن در مادر بودن

غرور و و مهربانی

مادر شاهکار خلقت خداوند

Mother means life, Mother means love

Mother is the masterpiece creation by God

Mixture of elegance, strength

And sacrifice

The elegance of a woman in motherhood

Proud and kind

Mother is the masterpiece creation by God

Hoorieh:

موفقیت

جمله `خسته مباشید`

آرزوی سلامتی

استراحت و کمی فکر کردن به خود

Success

Saying 'Keep it up'

Wishing health

And thinking of me

Looking after me

Nooshin:

رضایت

می اندیشم در انتهای شب

افکار خلاقانه ام را قدم می زنم

Satisfaction

Thinking through the depth of night

Walking of my creative thoughts

Thanks to Greater Manchester BAME Network for funding this project.

You can find out more about our work here.