Wednesday, September 15, 2021

INITIAL PROMISES

by Stephen House




there were initial promises
from the Taliban
to form an inclusive government
 
there will be no women
in government
 
women playing sport
is not appropriate
 
women will be killed
if they commit adultery
 
LGBTQ people’s mere existence
means an automatic death sentence
 
LGBTQ Afghans are on the run
fearing they will be stoned to death
under Taliban law
 
Ahmadullah says
the Taliban beheaded his boyfriend
on the day they entered Kabul
Ahmadullah is in hiding
 
UN and US warn the Taliban
we are watching you
 
what will watching do?
 
there were initial promises
from the Taliban
to form an inclusive government


Stephen House has won many awards and nominations as a poet, playwright and actor. He’s received several international literature residencies from The Australia Council for the Arts and an Asia-link India residency. His chapbook real and unreal was published by ICOE Press. He’s published often and performs his acclaimed monologues widely.