The Rise Of War Poetry In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is teeming with the untold stories of half of its population. Sahar Speaks gives a rare and revealing look into Afghan women’s lives, as reported by Afghan women on the ground.

War and conflict were a regular feature of ancient Persian culture, which included modern-day Afghanistan. Today, in the face of increased violence, insecurity and fear, Afghan people are turning to poetry once again.

In my film, I interview poets and writers who believe that when people are surrounded by war, they are compelled to channel their feelings into writing about it. Even when their poetry is not directly political, it’s hard to stop war from becoming the foundation of their work, especially when they’ve lived most of their lives in a country plagued by nearly 40 years of war.