ArteEast Quarterly: the four quarters of the old city (poetry)

July 1, 2007
	the four quarters of the old city (poetry) Baharak Sedigh the desertification of our planet approaches slowly but like our own death it comes steadily and with promise yet wise men and women holy souls who all cry faith hang on to their corners at opposite ends of the old city living together but in hatred preaching the word of god praying at a wall behind which he supposedly sits all carrying their different symbols like soccer fans running through city streets shouting which house of god they belong to who is this god you speak of who can be contained in a place sitting on a throne watching misery and pain from a distance viewing your bloodshed as a sign of your devotion your egos riding humanity bareback you ask for faith that does not question your integrity or the meaning of your words who is this god so empty whose compassion can be kept among layers of bricks displeased with anything but blind certitude i denounce this god you've all created i denounce this god you've all created i go to the sea for my pilgrimage kneeling at a volcano's peek to whisper words that may trickle down to the core for the stars at night hum that none can truly own this land july 2, 2006

	Baharak Sedigh was born in Tehran, Iran, where she lived until the age of 8, at which time she moved to Paris with her family. She then moved to the United States during her teenage years, eventually settling in Houston. Currently she lives in San Diego, California, where she has lived for the last 5 years.

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