Here is a poem from my book on Afghanistan about a mountain roadman. I met this man at about 3,800 metres in the Hindu Kush mountains building a high mountain road with an old and worn shovel. It moved me greatly. Bob
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Buskashi, the game of mountain men. Photo: Bob McKerrow
Mountain Roadman
Flesh against wood and metal
His mettle against mountains of rock
Now broken in body and spirit
He who carved these roads aloft
His face was as worn as his shovel
Building roads in the Hindu Kush
And his ageing back bent double
From all the boulders he'd pushed
His reward but a sear of flour a day
Received humbly in callused hands
As he prays, "Allah O Akbar"
His reward can't be in this land
Anjouman, Badakhshan, June 1995
It is published in my book, Mountains of our Mind - Afghanistan, published by tara press, New Delhi. The book can be purchased through the website www.indiaresearchpress
4 comments:
beautiful poem
thanks for sharing
I deeply appreciate your comment. Bless you my brother and may we all find peace.
Bob
As an afghan and a kiwi... im feeling quite proud somehow to be reading your blog right now. just came across it while searching for info on afghan kuchis (i thought they'll be a great topic to go some research on). thanks much! Now im gona see if (hopefully) the library has your book!
Dear Sumayyah
i only came across your posting today. Thanks for your feedback. Bob
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