I'm not usually given to writing poetry of political commentary. This piece has been written to coincide with my essay today on Baker'sTake. This poem doesn't necessarily take a stance on one side or the other.
Perhaps it should.
guilty fingers cast
(a reaction to Karzai)
guilty fingers cast skyward
begging for salvation
while stabbing the Afghan sky
in vulgar defiance.
the vanguard and vanquished
harvest fields of purple poppies,
the color of dried blood.
Poem © 2011 by R. Burnett Baker
Finger photo from CNN/Muslimsagainstsharia.com, August, 2009.
Poppy photo ©Beth Kingsley Hawkins.
In your essay at "Baker's Take" I like the reference to having purple fingers at the voting booths in Florida... it may be a good idea. Also, those with purple fingers were known to have voted whereas those without did not.
ReplyDeleteThe "color of dried blood"... and I'm sure blood was shed over voting in Afghanistan. Pity.
Lizzy: Indeed it was and continues to be shed for that. I've read one report that two women had their fingers cut off by the Taliban after the August 2009 elections. I don't have answers, only opinions. I'm not sure anyone has answers...
ReplyDeleteoh i love that last line...that says enough in itself...
ReplyDeletechilling
ReplyDeleteI like your comment to Lizzie. " I don't have answers, only." Could be a prompt for a poem. Purple fingers... I'd love to see how many people complain and don't vote. Can't even imagine voting and being marked in such a way that it puts your physical well being at risk!
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