A Symphony of Words and Music: "Return from My Body’s Black-and-Blue

There are moments when words transcend their paper-thin boundaries, blossoming into new realms of expression. Such is the journey of my poem Return from My Body’s Black-and-Blue from Sheida Mohamadi's Snapshot of Making Love.
This poem, born of intimate reflections, has found a second life in the hands of the extraordinary composer Niyayesh Bagheri, whose musical sensitivity has given it a vibrant and haunting resonance.
Niyayesh's composition is a poetic marvel—a delicate and profound dialogue between sound and silence. The female voice, brought to life by the remarkable Nichole Waligora, flows with an emotive power that carries the weight of the poem's soul. The piano, guided by the masterful touch of Aaron Tan, becomes a pulse—each note echoing the poem's bruised beauty and resilient heart.
Together, this collaboration was unveiled in a stirring performance at Eastman School of Music, Hatch Hall, a space that seemed to cradle the emotions and amplify the piece's essence. The synergy of poetry, music, and performance created an atmosphere that transcended the boundaries of genre, becoming an ode to art’s ability to heal, question, and move us beyond ourselves.
I am deeply grateful for this collaboration—a testament to the enduring conversation between poetry and music, where words become melodies and melodies become meaning.
This moment reaffirms the infinite ways art can speak to us, not only as creators but as witnesses to its transformative power.
To everyone who listens, may this be more than a performance. May it be an experience that lingers—a return to what art can awaken within us.


Poet: Sheida Mohamadi
Composer: Niyayesh Bagheri
Female voice: Nichole Waligora
Piano: Aaron Tan
Performance at Eastman School of Music, Hatch Hall