Sunday, July 20, 2014
Four boys on a beach
A sea has no roof
whither warning bombs knock
Just fisherfolk digging happiness
upon sands of time
Beaches of Gaza
with no Iron Domes
Only shore-fulls of sea shell
with sea secrets in them
Merging point of waves
and four little boys
Running on spindly legs
after a soft white ball
Upon small smooth pebbles
carried by the tide
Near a stubborn sea
where fishing is a crime
Leaning against sky
toes deep in sand
Whisper whisping
chasing a tattered ball
Birds, like bumble bees
chirruping on their breath
Suddenly a sea storm
and drumfire from hell
Like sea burnt wood
legs bent at odd angles
Pirates drawn by laughter
horridly asphyxiating happiness
The ball and the beach exist
only the boys don't
Sameer
Tribute to Mohammed 9, Ahed 10, Zakaria 10, and Mohammed Bakr 11, the four boys killed on the beach in Gaza on July 16, 2014.
The art work is by Jerusalem-based Amir Schiby who has generously allowed me to use the image.