At every moment, you fight
With every choking breath, you strive
With every fiery tear, you inspire
… Do I?
Youthful sons incarcerated
Aging husband assassinated
Feeble mother shelled in her bed
Brutal casualties of cast lead
A sleeping angel survives, tossing in terror
Nightly haunted by blood and bombs and massacre
For your child, a brave smile creasing your worn face
Father is with Grandma, in God’s embrace
Your brothers will return, have faith in God’s grace
Loneliness will fade, fear abates, have faith, have faith!
You wonder, how long will she escape massacre,
Running from tent to tent,
From Deir al-Balah, to Khan Yunus, to Rafah
Oh dear God, let me burn and blister,
If it means my pierced body will shield her
From the shells and shrapnel exploding around her!
At every moment, you fight
With every choking breath, you strive
With every fiery tear, you inspire
… Do I?
I claim, I profess, I believe
In your call for justice, freedom, peace
Your supporter, friend, sister
… Am I?
I know, I weep, I pray
I rise, I struggle, I fight for you everyday
… Do I?
Fatema Valji
(@poetryfv)
