Sitting in Tehran

She can't talk to anyone
He can't either
he is 28
a computer programmer
will he remember how to program
when he gets out?
how quickly does the mind
go soft?
How long can the mind
converse with itself
before
it loses who said what
and it all becomes noise
that no one hears
He was a journalist
She played piano
They are our age
They sit
alone
and watch years of growth
go by

how big is that building?

there are so many of you
 how do you architect

a building
that seals

the dreams

of youth?