I’m confused by the game
The American troops, were they helping us or taking everything from us?
They said they’d leave in 2014
What did it mean? Prices of houses fell, rents went down…
No one wants to own a house in time of war.
Are we part of a game?
Must we pay for their benefit?
When the Americans go home
Will we Afghans finally live in peace?
We will make our decisions
No one will tell us what to do
But can dreams happen with open eyes?
Can dreams happen in reality?
We exist. We have wishes, dreams and needs
Does somebody care about that?
No, dear no.
Obama shows up from nowhere in the middle of the night in our country
Why does he come here… what does he want
Who listens when we scream
Now they say they will leave in 2016.
We are so helpless. Until 2016 we will carry the tensions
In our hearts and minds. Fears, insecurity, fear of losing our loved ones
And no independence.
But, seriously, who cares?
Americans will do what they want.
They do not care how many of us die. They will continue the game.
But even if the night is dark and long
The day will come
Brightness will overcome
This is called hope
Hope is bigger than any game.
By Farahnaz R.
President Barack Obama waves to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, March 28, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Dearest Farahnaz: Thank you for this poem. I think you are asking extremely important questions. Please know that there are readers here in America and around the world who ask these questions, too, and they see you, they know you are there, you are not invisible.
When it comes to US foreign policy, or any nation’s foreign policy, it’s easy to think that the policymakers are blind to the real people on the ground. But please keep asking these questions. Please keep speaking up. I hope people all through Washington, and the people who hold sway with people all through Washington will read your poem and wrestle with the very tough questions you ask. Stacy
Excellent, You are very strong and brave writer. Yes why does he come… What does he want. But indeed we ourselves make a help to us and our people, children and women . In Afghanistan, we ourselves find out our way and I think the government and people of other countries have family like us and when i see a foreign soldier for fighting against terrorism and Taliban in our country , i shame and hate mine because of we must do it and don’t let to terrorism to be in our country.