By Gene Novogrodsky

Specifically, in Afghanistan and Pakistan:
Schools are blown up.
Women are stoned.
The CIA, KGB, Pakistani intelligence,
Al Qaeda, Taliban, tribal chieftains and
Various bandits kill, deal, and kill and deal some more ….

A boon for weapon-makers;
A boon for global planners,
Intrigue – and blood, blood, blood,
And if not refugees, ill, ill ….

Secularists, stay away!
Islam is getting even – a branch of Islam ….
And no one stays away, while rare moves of peace,
Birds, doves, patience are mocked, and more ….

I walk outside, gasping, sick to my stomach,
And know that my family, scattered in angst and wealth,
Does not want to hear about Aslam’s black words on white pages ….

“You! You! Books! Always books!
More real than us.
Don’t bother us!”

West versus East.
East versus West.

“As usual, people you don’t know
Are more important than us.
Too late for them, too late for us.”

…which leaves me ….