Have you tried Afghanistan?
                Its medieval warriors sharpen swords
                and smoke wooden bowls of hash.

                In the high hills of that country
                they build towns without mortar
                wedging sharp rocks for walls and round

                stones for sills. On the plains,
                a different tribe tries to live
                without trees, without rain,

                driving goats on the road from Islamabad.
                You say, that it's not too difficult
                to imagine a whole desert-borne sadness

                that cuts each man and woman
                like an angry god not pleased with his
                own madness blossoming like sand

                verbenas out there, in the desert.
                             

Copyright © Albino Carrillo, 2003.  All Rights Reserved.