Afghanistan Quote of the Day: 31 January 2014

Kabul town's by Kabul river —

Blow the trumpet, draw the sword —

There I lef' my mate for ever,

Wet an' drippin' by the ford.

Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,

Ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

There's the river up and brimmin', an' there's 'arf a squadron swimmin'

'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Rudyard Kipling, “Ford o’ Kabul River,” 1890

Top and middle: Kabul River in Kabul town, summer 2005 (Photos: Jim Chiavelli)

Bottom: Me in Surobi, where the river is dammed, winter 2006 (Photo: Jeremy Kelly)