Chaperon Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Chaperon

Some recall 91
(Year of fear; Taliban)
I escaped from Iran
Different dialogue
(All alone)
Went around
To Rabat, wilderness, all deserts
To Kabul were Helmand and opium and trucks
(Each approach, each person, sounded death)
Then came time to depart
Kabul's life meant meeting lead Mullah
(The one-eyed)
That was hell.

In power Taliban
Women with chaperon
Victims died while waiting
(Lecture's-end, the bullet with gunshot,)

All seats filled
No place in stadium
(Turned to court; hanging site)

Woman out of restaurant
Like dog of Jack London
Barbershop; youths squeezed
They were getting forced haircut

Now airport
Many bags
Among them moving sacks
(Mostly blue)
They were women.
Everything seemed replaced
Ball with bullet
Sack for woman
Etc.