I called home


At four

o clock

in the

morning

because

of the

nine hour

time difference

between Afghanistan

and the

United States


it was

winter in

the desert

no snow

but a

cold like

you never

feel off

Lake Erie


I pass

a group

of village

elders sleeping

on the

ground in

light robes

and turbans

In front

of the

hospital their

family members

are staying in


peaceful looks

on their

faces as

they lay

on frozen

rocky ground

When my

wife answers

the phone

she always

asks what

are you

thinking

about today


and I

say through

chattering

teeth that

I don’t

think anybody

is tough

enough to

take over

this country.