by Marshall Begel

“To divert focus from atrocities on women, Taliban want outsiders to visit Afghanistan
for beautiful landscapes, food & hospitality”
—India Today

Come take the road that’s traveled least—
The theocratic Middle East!
Where Afghan history is kept
By Taliban decree, except:

Those Buddhist relics, we destroyed ’em,
Enlightened women, we avoid ’em,
Our civic neighbors, we annoyed ’em,
Professors… well, we unemployed ’em.

So book one of our roomy flights—
But please don’t mention human rights!