What She Said

A woman on a plane said No!

We didn’t want your bombs 

and guns. We didn’t want them 

setting up camps

making secret plans

crisscrossing our mountains

dressed in combat gear.

Those helicopters scared us.

We wanted girls in school, yes,

freedom for women, always,

how can there not be freedom

for the source of life?

But more war, battles, 

years of dead villagers 

sprawled under 

pine nut trees, why?

Why not simpler things,

more schools,

larger hospitals,

food?

There would have been

Better things to do.