I’m a singer—I’m a writer—
I’m not for sale—
My pen won’t forgive me
if I write in fear
I came back to life
after twenty days—
broken fingers
broken ribs
broken legs
my eyesight dim—
alone in this cell
but I won’t give in
two hundred days
alone in this hell
I need a lawyer—can’t get a lawyer—
I need a doctor—can’t get a doctor—
My bones are broken
My words are not—
My eyesight is dimmed
My vision is not—
Broken
Broken
Broken-Unbroken—
In this bout between
words and silence
I’m the one standing tall
I bob and weave
words, words, words
Rap is my pen—
I punch lies in the gut—
clinch the censor—
footwork with words—
I write what should be—
and what should not—
I write of their crimes—
I write of our fight—
Rap is protest—
the voice of the voiceless—
hanging on gallows
or rotting in jail
a roof for the homeless
who sleep in a grave
Rap is my crime—
my “corruption on earth” [efn_note]A crime under the Islamic Republic of Iran’s laws that carries death penalty. [/efn_note]
so I call out their corruption on earth—
They think they’re gods
They want me to die—
cause I can see
right through their lie
But once the voice
always the voice—
I’m the voice
of the voiceless—
I’m the voice
of the voice—
• Toomaj Salehi is an Iranian dissident rapper detained for a second time on October 30, 2022, for his participation in “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran.
ENDNOTE