POETRY Helmand, How Calmly You Flow Sitting on the banks of the Helmand, swept by thoughts, I watch as time flows in its waves. It bends and twists to the embrace of centuries, holding in its chest an eternity of stories.
If stories of darkness do not suit you why shall we remind you of our pain? why shall we cry to you of our ruins? How long shall we pollute your waves with tears? How long shall we engulf you in our flames?
Helmand, I ask you in the language of the heart: do you recall the cruelties of your time? You know well what’s happened at your edges. You listened as angry skies grumbled and death rained down with bullets. You watched blood flow with your waves as hangmen discarded martyred bodies. And you witnessed those who looted the Bedouin girls’ nose rings: All in the name of the great lord.
Come, Helmand, lets forget the stories of yesterday and renew our vow with the skies. Come, let me avenge the cruelties of time let me subdue your enemies at your feet. Let me snatch away their sleep, Let me curse their kismet with defeat. Come, leave the accounts of justice to another day And, in your soft embrace, forget our moments of separation. As you flow today, spread bouquets of flowers And on your beautiful banks, let a city of Bedouin tents flourish again. Raise a soft cloud above the herds And return to the young shepherd his flute of jolly tunes.
Helmand, how did you learn to flow with such calm? Haven’t brutal storms tested you in life? Haven’t your waves raked in scores of heads? Haven’t mothers wailed to you at night? Your bosom remains pretty from blue skies. Haven’t your waves been colored red in blood? Your God-given beauty remains intact Haven’t you felt the darkness of hatred? And as ever, you roll up with pride. Has no one woven a moment pain to you? Come, Helmand. It’s good that you are oblivious
as you flow through our village, our ruins. You have been shield to our memories. Come and continue to keep our tales alive in your waves.
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Helmand, I cradle a world of dreams on my wings. Hold me so tight that I can flow with your drops, like a story that I can turn with your waves, like pages. And as I release myself in your swing of dreams the rotting blood of love reawakens in my veins. I have spread my wings above your skies Please let them be So you don’t awaken the world of my dream-angels.