Poetry Of The Taliban

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Shakespearean love sonnets they are not. But Poetry of the Taliban, the first-ever English-language collection of verse from the Afghan militant group, is not all doctrinaire propaganda.

Edited by Kandahar-based researchers and journalists Alex Strick van Linschoten and Felix Kuehn, the book is an attempt to broaden international understanding of what historian Faisal Devji refers to in the introduction as the Taliban movement’s “esthetic dimension.”

Afghanistan, like other Muslim countries in the region, has a long tradition of popular verse, and the Taliban — both its official leadership and individual fighters — have embraced the form.

Despite the group’s austere interpretation of Islam, which extends to a complete ban on instrumental music, recordings of poetry recitations are frequently traded between fighters on CDs and MP3s and often serve as soundtracks for the movement’s propaganda videos.

“The Taliban are known not only in the West, but in much of the Muslim world, too for their strict conservatism rather than for any delicate feelings of humanity, yet the poetry associated with them is replete with such emotions,” Devji writes.

Yes, there are paeans to the glory of the battlefield and vicious parodies of enemy leaders, but also a surprising emphasis on comradeship and some chaste and ambiguous references to romantic love.

In Britain, however, the poems have come under criticism. A former commander of British troops in Afghanistan has gone on record calling them “self-justifying propaganda.”

“What we need to remember is that these are fascist, murdering thugs who suppress women and kill people without mercy if they do not agree with them, and of course are killing our soldiers,” retired colonel Richard Kemp told the Guardian on Friday. “It doesn’t do anything but give the oxygen of publicity to an extremist group which is the enemy of this country.”

Poetry of the Taliban is currently on sale in Britain and will be published in the United States on July 17.

Sample poem 1: “Condolences of Karzai and Bush”

Sample poem 2: “How many are the NGOs!”

A rather sympathetic view of the book

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The newly released book, Poetry of the Taliban, contains poems on love, nature, and nationalism all written by members of the Taliban. The work, which spans from the Taliban’s rise and fall in the Middle East, has caused a global uproar. Originally published in the United Kingdom by Hurst and Co., the collection is part of a series on understanding Afghani culture. Critics of the book believe it will make readers feel sympathy for members of the Taliban. Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Helmand, has been the most vocal opponent of the book, commenting that others should be cautious of “being taken in by a lot of self-justifying propaganda". While I understand the point of contention, it seems that critics of the collection have failed to realize the purpose of poetry – to relate universal human emotion or, if the poem isn’t being published (as many of these were never intended to be), it is a form of expression that simply reflects on personal experience.

To me it seems that critics like Colonel Kemp are uncomfortable with the idea that members of the Taliban may have emotional experiences similar to those of his own troops; the thought of the enemy feeling lonely, scared, or in love humanizes them.

I’m not saying I condone the actions of the Taliban, but it’s important to realize that poetry is not an act of war, and gaining insight on universal human suffering and the struggles of soldiers, be they friend or foe, is a building block of peace. It is a means of understanding another’s culture, and coming to realize that despite minimal differences, humans are all fairly similar. Faisel Davji, who wrote the introduction to the collection, commented that “The Taliban are known not only in the West, but in much of the Muslim world, too for their strict conservatism rather than for any delicate feelings of humanity, yet the poetry associated with them is replete with such emotions.”

Poetic expression is not restricted to members of NATO, and people who think otherwise are ignorant of general human nature. As creative beings, there is an inherent desire to express oneself and comment on experiences that others can relate to. Not to go all philosophical-high-school-English-student, but that is a key factor for why universal themes in literature exist; to show common experiences and open discussion of similar emotions. The most commonly cited humanizing example from Poetry of the Taliban is an anonymous contribution, and is actually one that expresses regret for violent acts.

It’s a pity that we are wandering vagrants/we did this all to ourselves.

This snippet brings to mind hundreds of American and British authors and poets who have discussed regret, loss, and the effects of war in the works. Clearly, Anglo-Saxon writers are not the only people who feel these emotions. No doubt the Taliban are guilty of heinous acts, but that doesn’t make them any less human – if anything it makes them more human, to be capable of such destruction and at the same time write such accessible poetry.

Interesting, I would surely like to read what type of poetry they create. Authors believe that Western media presents a bleak image of Taliban and they are way different than the image presented on international media. They believe that this book would help in creating better understanding of Taliban. Discuss.

So this is a guys only book?

Not political. We have a lit forum.

I remember seeing this CNN documentary about everyday life of Taliban fighters, apparently they play a rock tossing game in their spare time, pretty appropriate for their vision of the future i suppose.

You know who else was skilled in the humanities?

Hitler.

Ive seen personal photos of them frolicking in meadows and washing each others backs in streams. Word is there are some serious homosexual tendencies within the Taliban.

Well, it's nice that the Taliban have an artistic side; I'm sure many Afghanis will appreciate the fact.

Originally Posted by BarnabyJones

Ive seen personal photos of them frolicking in meadows and washing each others backs in streams. Word is there are some serious homosexual tendencies within the Taliban.

Any man who thinks that throwing acid into the face of woman is a good idea, is clearly gay.

Not really political. Moved to the Arts forum.

sympathetic? Oh sure boo hoo poor misunderstood Taliban, while we are at it lets all give a moment of silence for poor old Adolf failed dream as a painter.

Can anyone just read the poetry ,criticize or praise the "song " and disregard the life style of it's artist ?

Originally Posted by Uber Mind

Can anyone just read the poetry ,criticize or praise the "song " and disregard the life style of it's artist ?

Well it depends on what the artist has done. Boy George has some decent pop hits back in the day, but I can't listen to any of his songs without feeling its slightly worse knowing that he is a pedophile. Or a more applicable answer is Hitlers artwork, and the way we see it due to knowing who drew it.

Many can disregard certain aspects of the artist due to their own personal beliefs. But I have a hard time finding merit in the fact that horrible people happened to write poetry, be it good or bad.

This is just another poor trolling attempt to "Humanize" the Taliban anyway, the artistic merit of the poetry was never even in his mind.

Originally Posted by frozenprince

This is just another poor trolling attempt to "Humanize" the Taliban anyway, the artistic merit of the poetry was never even in his mind.

They're definitely more "Human" than serial murderers who kill others for fun, or most of the capitalists in your country who spend their entire life exploiting others as much as the laws permit, and have no higher objective in their life than to earn profits for themselves.

Even if Talibans are *evil* and everything they did are horrible, why are you guys trying to demonize them when they're no worse than any other religious and authoritarian regimes in human history? They just happen to be born in 20th century, and in fact even in 21th century there are a lot of places in the world where people live exactly like your ancestors did in 1AD.

Originally Posted by aqd

or most of the capitalists in your country who spend their entire life exploiting others as much as the laws permit, and have no higher objective in their life than to earn profits for themselves.

I've been screwed out of money before, but oddly I've kept my head. Try harder.

I’m just a lonely terrorist, in space.
An old so lonely terrorist stuck in space.
So far away from the human race,
No city structures to deface,
Oh what a disgrace, to be a terrorist stuck in space.

I have a gun, but I have no cause.
In space you can’t even break the laws.
Oh how I miss the artillery barrage,
Parading around in camouflage.
Oh do return to my birthplace,
Still that a terrorist stuck in space.

Abu Nidal hear my call
Arafat please lets chat
The red brigade, the IRA
They seem so terribly far away...
To a terrorist stuck in space.

If anyone’s ever up this way,
Traveling to galaxies far away,
Have mercy on this terrorist so misplaced.
This lonely terrorist is stuck in space.

-T.D. Mischke

Originally Posted by brandbll

I’m just a lonely terrorist, in space.
An old so lonely terrorist stuck in space.
So far away from the human race,
No city structures to deface,
Oh what a disgrace, to be a terrorist stuck in space.

I have a gun, but I have no cause.
In space you can’t even break the laws.
Oh how I miss the artillery barrage,
Parading around in camouflage.
Oh do return to my birthplace,
Still that a terrorist stuck in space.

Abu Nidal hear my call
Arafat please lets chat
The red brigade, the IRA
They seem so terribly far away...
To a terrorist stuck in space.

If anyone’s ever up this way,
Traveling to galaxies far away,
Have mercy on this terrorist so misplaced.
This lonely terrorist is stuck in space.

-T.D. Mischke

Let me try to create some poetry from Taliban, tho I am not good at English;

in your eyes warrior! I see a tear
you cry with pain and I hear
O so "civilized", mama's dear
didn't mom tell you have no fear?

Poet

The topic is the poetry, not a catalog of Taliban offenses.

Girl goes to school
Allah commands we poison
Such is Allah's will

There once was a Marine from Nantucket
Who's aim was so good we can't duck it
So we said with a grin, before he could begin
We are hiding in a school, so suck it!

Marine's diary Kandahar - 24th of May;

I'm a marine from Nantucket

I brought from home ma mom's bucket

there in her diary, a lot of names

more than the waters ever had Tames

None is my father that's a shame

I am a bastard, damn it

I'm a marine from Nantucket

Mr. Dickson

Thread good.

Originally Posted by Poet

Marine's diary Kandahar - 24th of May;

I'm a marine from Nantucket

I brought from home ma mom's bucket

there in her diary, a lot of names

more than the waters ever had Tames

None is my father that's a shame

I am a bastard, damn it

I'm a marine from Nantucket

Mr. Dickson

Tames?