issue56theblood

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THE BLOOD AND THE DUST ON THE GROUND

by Maryann Rody

an old football stadium
is where she’s found
quietly kneeling
upon the ground

her burka pale blue
falls all around
her little head too
dips tiredly down

stretching behind
caught in this time
is a very still line
of broken women

all burka-hidden
with no mercy given
their backs are low bent
all hope is spent

the fierce Afghan sun
torments each one
as the Taliban man
comes forward to stand

black gun in hand
his forefginger curls
sending one shot
felt round the world

there isn’t a place
for hate in this song
the evil’s too great
the sorrow too strong

and the flight of sweet grace
has taken too long
for millions
of Muslims to trust

whose very souls must
be powerfully crushed
when the terror unfolds
and moves down the line

of women too fine
to be left now to find
their lives tossed behind
to the blood and the dust

now where can we go
when we’ve fallen so low?
we forgot that each soul
on this earth felt that blow

for each of us knows
we’re all just one piece
one heart that still weeps
with each head that bled

that murderous lead
fired also through us
as we lay in clean peace
in our comfortable beds

so how can we stand
in our freedom so grand
with our noses so high
in our star-spangled air?

how can we rest
when we’ve all got the best
in this blood-bought
and sanctified land?

and what finally compares
with that one little head
covered in dusty dark red
and left dead in Afghanistan sand?

Jan. 2006