Cities of the Drowned

NILOFAR SHIDMEHR

There are cities forming in deep waters at the bottom of oceans and seas where boats full of refugees sank, attempting to reach us.

Their cities are splendid, some built in kelp forests some in the Poseidonia meadows, with indigo houses and oval windows through which small fish swim.

Sea grapes hang from their balconies.

There is no border or danger in their world; they live in peace with vampire squids, wolffish and giant spider crab.

Lantern sharks light their streets; children play freely among seagrass.

Women stroll along the boulevards, enjoying their nakedness, wearing necklaces of red algae around their necks and sun coral on their floating hair.

Their bodies and souls transparent as jellyfish.

The underwater citizens have no worries: for daily food they go to the Urchin Bazaar; their future is colourfully set among sea anemones and stars.

See how they gather every day and dance hand in hand on the ocean floor.

They have already forgotten us, forgotten how we forgot them.