They have been there
Since the beginning
Even before
The winds began to blow
And the flames danced
And the Spirit came
They were there
When the various powers
And principalities
Babylonians
Persians
Greeks and Romans
The Byzantines
The crusaders-Muslim and Christian
Ottomans
Empires and battles
Came
They were there
When the British came
And the Balfour Declaration
They were there
70 years ago
They were forced
To leave their lands
Their homes
Many now live
In refugee camps
Behind barbed wire
And Grafitti’d walls
Hoping praying
That someday
They will have
The right of return
On the walls
These words
“We cannot live
So we wait to die”
When there is
No hope
There is often
No fear
And where there
Is no fear
And no hope
There is often no faith
Yet I believe
There is no
Other choice
But God
No other option
But faith
If we are to
Find our way
To an equitable
Just
Peaceful
Solution
The only other
Option
Annihilation
Isn’t an
Option worth
considering
Looking at
The long arc
Of history
We see
That in time
The empires
Fall and the
People and the
Land
Well,
They remain
(Photo: Public Domain/CC0 1.0)
Maren, This is a compelling piece. You are so gifted. I am wondering if I could include this on my blog. I would love to feature you as a guest blogger.
Kathy, I would love to be a guest blogger some time on your blog. Do let me know. You do realize that this piece is my Thursday weekly guest post by remarkable poet Carol Hallman?
Yes, I did notice that after I sent my comment to you. But I am so glad you are willing to be a guest blogger on my blog. We will do that soon, or whenever you write something you would like to share. Thank you. Do you follow my blog? It’s at kalliopekathryne.com in case you want to peruse it.
I have enjoyed your blog, knowing you earlier more from issues of violence before this.
Great Words. I have been to the Holy Land twice. My last guide was an Arab, Palestinian, Christian and I learned a lot about Jesus and at the same time saw the terrible treatment
of the Palestinians.
Those things have not changed!