Kawther Salam's Diary 

palestine / lanna Sharon Mandel - 2002

palestine

The desert speaks

shrouds wail

floating across the expanse

from the Valley of Jezreel, to the waters of Sharem el Shech

billions of tiny granules

cloud up in anger.

Six million dead souls

whisper through lidless graves

awakened from their mournful slumber

unwilling recruits to the justification for murder.

Foreign-made tanks rumble through Sinai

blasting quiet dunes.

Rugged tears drip down the cheeks

of the Colossal Images

weeping for naked children

guarding exposed doorways.

The Almighty speaks,

“ Come with me, into the light of the eternal cosmos”

We ascend

cry

beat our chests

beg forgiveness

pray for tolerance

admit sin

for the ground upon which we stand is holy ground.