How Can I?
Nahida Izzat,
Exiled Palestinian
Poetry For Palestine
Look at me
I would love to write poetry about love,
Paint rainbows and butterflies,
Roll in a meadow
Enchanted by rosebud scent
Run down the hills with open arms
Embrace the Earth
Inhale the sky
I would love to dance for love;
Twirl with jubilant nightingales
Swept off my feet
Besotted, entranced
As I sing my lullaby
I would love to dream of love, stretch my wings
Taste the clouds, touch infinity as I fly
Watch prophets pray
Hear angels sing
Bathe in light, a Heavenly delight
Roam the cosmos before I die
I would love to sing for love
Fling open the gates of my soul
Invite the world in
Tuck it all under my wings
Rock back and forth
Caress its wounds
Whisper “I love you”
Watch it heal before my eyes
I would love to close my eyes and see children smiling
Tell them stories of lily-like fairies in far-away lands
No guns pointing at their heads
No bullets shrieking…. no missiles exploding
No blood, no burns, no broken limbs,
no prison bars, no tears, no sighs
I would love to embrace a baby,
Hold her safe, sway her gently in my arms
Stroke her face in tender love and astounding wonder
Teach her sweet words, mama, baba, habibi Allah
Look into her eyes in dazzling awe and whisper
My amazing grace,
You are my hope, you are my love, you are my joy
You are my rainbow, you are my lilac and my amber
But
How can I?
There is a dagger in my heart
I am hurting
Hurting
I bleed,
I cringe
I cry
HUMANITY, WHERE ARE YOU?
I am being slaughtered
Under your watchful eyes
I am cold… cold…. cold
I cringe
I cry
Humanity, where are you?
Why do you turn your face away?
Why do you keep looking the other way?
I am here
Languishing
In Gaza’s alleyways
Humanity, where are you?
Look at me
See me
I am here
Sighing
In Gaza’s alleyways
I cringe
I cry
Humanity,
Enough turning the other way
Turning a deaf ear
Turning a blind eye
While I, and oh … my poor children
Die
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Source: Poetry For Palestine. AWIP: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2024/03/26/how-can-i
