The Poems And Confessions Of A Mad Man: My Theater Of Pain
by Andrew J. Green
Category: Poetry

Baghdad Letters is a collection of correspondence, journals and photographs compiled by a young couple from Texas in Iraq from September 1966 to May 1967. From the book: Baghdad preferred professors with a Texas accent since the Iraqis had problems understanding the oilfield personnel working there, most of whom were from places like Odessa, Texas. On the flight from London, I told a British soldier, "I'm going to Baghdad to teach English." He threw his head back and laughed, "My God, you don't even SPEAK it!" he said. This isn't just a different culture, or even civilization. It is a different Time, a different world. In the desert at midnight we came upon a roadblock. An Iraqi soldier with a machine gun shined a light in our faces and filthy troops crowded around the car to look at us. "Where you go?" "Baghdad," I said. "La," (No) he said, looking at Carole, "You stay tonight with me." I tried not to show the jolt of fear that went through me. But the women are getting college degrees, even going into engineering, I've heard-- My students may be the first, and someday things may change.