“Afghanistan”

by Daniel W. Ross

(“Afghanistan” mobile version)

One gains no traction in a game with no rules,
Forsaken efforts hexing a forlorn few;
The other side of the mountain proved us fools.

Generations drowned by politics’ drool,
Fade to obscurity’s ephemeral hue;
One gains no traction in a game with no rules,

Yet, warriors possessed victorious tools
Action unraveled by strategy they drew;
The other side of the mountain proved us fools.

Lions left to fundamentalist cesspools,
The ignominy remains ours ’cause we knew,
One gains no traction in a game with no rules.

And this history will be lost to our schools,
While years of trauma and suffering accrue;
The other side of the mountain proved us fools.

Thus, return to the ouroboros of ghouls,
Our never-ending mistakes once again new:
One gains no traction in a game with no rules,
The other side of the mountain proved us fools.


Dr. Daniel W. Ross grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where he developed a love for poetry and creative writing at Gilman School and Goucher College. He finds inspiration from his travels across the globe and has visited or worked in many ambiguous, high-stress, and complex environments in over 40 countries. Dr. Ross enjoys time with his wife and two daughters; he also enjoys mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, and everything about the outdoors.