Herat, Afghanistan

Herat, Afghanistan

Many millennia ago, a small fire was started

With the fire came a town, a city, and a civilization

With civilization came culture

With culture came art, architecture, and learning

And with that came life

Not so many millennia ago, a larger fire was started,

With the fire came shouts, cries, and anger

With anger came war

With war came bombings, battles, and insurrection

And with that came death

And now a city lay bombed and barren

A city seeming to belong to another age

A city betrayed by shadows

A city remembered by a mere few

And yet, even now, a small fire burns

Photo taken by Steve McCurry of Herat, Afghanistan being rebuilt in 1992 after years of Soviet Bombing. Can be found here