Tina Demirdjian: IN BARREN LANDS

They’re
planting
trees
in dusty fields
where their mothers
and fathers
once soiled their feet

two women
wear
flowered
scarves
on their heads

bend
and
dig
with their hands:

fleshy shovels
holding the earth,
tilling the soil,

digging passages
like human veins:
calling their ancestors
beneath
the
ground
to send us prayers,
to chant
the ancient songs.

Copyright Tina Demirdjian