The Golden Road

QAESIM: Sweet to hold forth in Baghdad after bombs,
              When cities burn eternal in the sand               
              from Nineveh to Syrian Homs
              Along the Golden Road to Samarkand.
 

ALQUDS:                      We murder not for murdering alone;
                                    By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned:
                                    For lust of burning what should not be known
                                    We burn the Golden Road to Samarkand.
 

MASTER OF THE TALIBAN:           Open the gate, O watchman of the gate!
THE WATCHMAN:                         Ho, travellers, I open. From what land
                                                        come you to our city of hate?
MILITIAMEN (with a shout):          We burn the Golden Road to Samarkand!

THE WATCHMAN :                              What would ye, ladies? It was ever thus.
                                                          Men are the wise, and womenfolk banned.
A WOMAN:                                         They have their dreams, and do not think of us.
VOICES OF THE TALIBAN:                  We burn the Golden Road to Samarkand.