the joke

For J

‘Under the Taliban, women had to walk ten paces behind their husbands.
America brought freedom, and landmines.
Now the women walk ten paces in front.’

We can laugh off what we don’t understand,
Knowing the heart weeps even in laughter,
Violently trying to live and let live,
Here, people carry themselves through disaster.

Knowing the heart weeps even in laughter,
We tell the joke of noble aspiration.
There, people carry themselves through disaster
With forgiveness: an inspiration.

We tell the joke of noble aspiration:
All’s fair in love and war, but hard to forgive
Forgiveness comes: wet-eyed inspiration.
Smiling cynically, we sit and grieve.

All’s fair in love and war, but hard to forgive,
Violently trying to live and let live,
Smiling cynically, we grieve hand in hand,
We can laugh off what we don’t understand.