Bamian, Afghanistan Poem by M.L. Squier

Dedicated to the people of Afghanistan


Echoes of Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, and Alexander
Were found in turquoise, opal, and amethyst dreams,
Young vagabonds slept on Persian rugs
Beneath heaven's pastures far below tall
Buddhas on Bamian's plains.
While bright on Earth green grass grew under falling rain,
Above the sky lit up dark echoed man's last refrain:
We hail the rains to bring us back to life,
We hail the rains to remove this mortal rule of knife.
But thunder shouted and sirens cried,
People hurried,
They fought and died.
Echoes of Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, and Alexander
Were found in turquoise, opal, and amethyst dreams,
Young vagabonds slept on Persian rugs
Beneath heaven's pastures
Far below tall Buddhas on Bamian's plains.