Madrasah Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Madrasah

In nineteen ninety nine
Therefore forced,
-I said bye Iran.

Passed through the dangers
Lived on lands of Afghans.

Ruler was volcano,
Uniformed in local
Bearded; fearsome
Taliban.

White flag that flew
Meant blood to my eyes
Heart throbbed every time
I saw them passing by
Yes, I too, dressed in the local!

Encountered many things
Fearful, eye-catching,
Heart wrenching!

Saw the man shot and killed
Saw women beaten, kicked
Saw the boys squeezed
In shrine and then shaved
And much more,
The number has no end
Limitless!

But also faced kindness
Witnessed their corruption
Paid money bought ID
Became an Afghani
Even got a passport…
Passport of Taliban…
Funny is my photo
With a Muslims' Kippah…

Unaware of my wrongs! ! !

Finally…
-you seem to be great
Said young man and wanted:
-meet Mullah, the leader!

I had to run away
That wasn't my bread.

I ended in Panjshir
Not easy as may seem!

There too I learned a lot
Kids building Madrasah
Small hands in blood
And cracks all across…
With faces burned
Of sun…

I thanked them
Wrote poem
In Farsi
Recorded.

Now, here, cockroaches
Have become my teachers
They too love social life,
In groups with locals.

But hide; are scattered
To escape my revenge
I kill them if I can
With palm, fist, whatever…

Cockroaches multiply
In peace and in silence
Only if possible…

Are we not all the same?
Leave aside race, nations
Yes we are…regardless…
All of us love the life…
And I am student
Study as I must...