Poetry allows me to write about what I don't know, whereas journalism demands a higher level of certainty to be worthy of being written.

I think most good poetry is about suffering; I think that's what underlies the love in these landays pieces - suffering and longing.

If we were to see Western landay poems, we'd see them out of disenfranchised populations, maybe out of the legacy of slavery. Spirituals, rap music - that would be the space we'd find American landays in.

In most of the world, poetry has such a different reputation than it does in Western culture. Poetry is a popular genre in Afghanistan. If you turned on the radio, there would be a poetry program that would be as popular as The Real Housewives. People aren't listening to poetry as if they're taking their vitamins. Instead, it's a popular vessel you can fill with anything. You could fill it with sass. You could fill it with rage. You could fill it with political statements.

It's important to understand that violent Islam is only one face of violent religion.

Poetry isn't as relevant in the Western world as it is in Afghanistan. And not many people make time for something that doesn't feel relevant.

Poetry allows me to write about what I don't know, whereas journalism demands a higher level of certainty to be worthy of being written.