May 2005

Afg 9.1: Shelter

Hi, everyone,

As an addendum to Afg 9: while writing/journalling is normally my primary reaction to new and intense experiences, my first reaction to the women's shelter in Kabul was a song. I'm not a skilled songwriter or guitarist-I just play to pass the time-but this song more or less popped out in 30 minutes so easily that I suspect it was written by the women at the shelter and deposited into my head before I left.

The lyrics are below, and the song itself is here.

Again, I'm not a musician, so don't expect much.

Many thanks to my friend Carl (a most definitely skilled songwriter and guitarist) for helping me record this.

--

Shelter

Bite the wall, throw yourself at the door
Scratch your face, slash your wrists
Scream at all they have done, you know the score
Now you talk with your fists

You scream for the child they took away
You need more than this
You scream for the chance to watch him play
And you dream of death's kiss

Played with dolls when you should have cooked the meals
Why did Dad send you here?
Rest assured that your fractured skull will heal
You're a childwife, my dear

You bleed for the innocence you've missed
You need much more than this
Dad's greed made you splay for some man's bliss
Now you hope for death's kiss

Now, waiting for days to pass, you're done
Only the children matter
Grasping for sanity with noone
To help you as you scatter

Commander's wife, former kidnapped shotgun bride
Watch your co-wife get killed
Run through mountains to find a place to hide
Your husband's hunters are skilled

You scream for the child you left behind
You need so much more than this
You scream for her keepers to be kind
And you dream of death's kiss

Faghat yak marg ast (Translation: There is only one death.)

--

Sarah.