Op-Comic: The Mideast, an unsolved puzzle

Nasrin Sheykhi
I was working on a crossword puzzle and listening to news from Iran.
I was working on a crossword puzzle and listening to news from Iran.
Puzzle answers were "Iran" and "Israel" and "Middle East." Squares connected "Iran" and "Israel." I imagined a hamas tunnel.
Puzzle answers were "Iran" and "Israel" and "Middle East." Squares connected "Iran" and "Israel." I imagined a hamas tunnel.
I started drawing the first letters of "Iran" and "Israel" into missiles. Hamas' tunnel expanded. Bombs above "Middle East."
I started drawing the first letters of "Iran" and "Israel" into missiles. Hamas' tunnel expanded. Bombs above "Middle East."
I thought about my family in Iran. "Middle East" mixed with my tears until nothing was left but a stain of black.
I thought about my family in Iran. "Middle East" mixed with my tears until nothing was left but a stain of black.

Nasrin Sheykhi is an Iranian artist whose work has won awards in international competitions. She is now living and working in the United States.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.