First Snow In Kabul Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

First snow in Kabul

Long ago when America was not America and, was not born USA
Kabul was a city; it was town or village but was there at the feet of mountains
The snow lasted there, year around, spring to summer and winter
The Afghan existed, not istan, and there was a culture
(In it fun, fiesta and lessons,)
Each grain had respect
(So did every drop of water.)
“It is ours, ” elders said.
And it meant “It is social don’t steal, don’t spoil, do not waste.”
And river, generous, had trees on its banks and bushes on both sides, flowers.
Chrystal was water
And swam birds like ducks
And songs came days and nights
Nightingale, partridge and roosters and the owls, even crows
And the wind and the breeze danced the clouds and the fog
Willows hugged

Came snow
First snow and came fun
A letter to compose for a friend
Someone would be mailman; lucky-not,
What a surprise
If opened or returned (the letter)
Thin layer of snow was content,
“You have lost, ”
Said writing “Must invite all the friends and their friends.”

If smart, receiver caught the mailman rubbed his nose and his face in the mud
“Sender lost, ”
The rule was “He’ll invite the winner and his friends and their friends.”

Those days gone
Death is around
Suspicious, NSA
Taliban, roadside bomb
All is hate, disrespect
Extreme!