When I bleed, they only wish to see a drop of red,
not to hear my screams, not to bury the thousands dead.
When I suffer, they only wish to take my home it seems,
but they take away my hope, my spirits, my dreams.
When they kill my innocent children, our sons and daughters,
and their unknowing blood turns red the flowing waters,
they expect us only to whince, mourn and then turn away
but feel the scales of justice, unto us they finally sway.
The day of reckoning is far away, but coming nonetheless,
the bell that tolls we may not hear, but it tolls somewhere incess’
Tie these hands, you must fear them surely,
burn this skin, you must hate it sorely,
Am I not human, just as you, persecuted though, but just the same?
demons in hell have suffered less, and faced not the dreaded shame,
every day a hopeful reprise, the hope to leave this awful place,
where the dead must mourn the living left, where soil and flesh embrace.
I am the child of Sarajevo, have you seen my rose?
carved in concrete memoirs, does it not impose?
a question as to how so many died, but no one heard a sound,
for the dead know only how to sleep, in graveyards unbound.
I am a mother Palestinian, have you seen my baby?
I lost it today, or yesterday, is it alive still? maybe….
gaza is a wall of martyrs, perhaps he is another brick,
and how each day they raise it further, it only makes me sick.
I am the corpse of Sudan, where is my sweet Babylon?
has it drowned in the tears of centuries, or vanished in the wait of dawn?
where is my fellow man, where is the angel of death?
enough of this living and dying, enough of these wasted breaths!
“He who says, hope is eternal, is either a tyrant or an ignorant god.”
A very sad and heartrending poem. To feel the peace of death as relief from the inflicted torture of living… it is a tragic commentary on the depravity of man. Hope is something we hold in our hearts, and although it is not eternal, it can be a hope for something eternal.
But to push our fellow man to the brink of losing his will to live, is nothing less than tyranny on our part, he keeps hoping we shall deliver him from his suffering, and be his guide to salvation, but that is not so, and for us to keep hoping that he must keep faith is ignorance.
I do not put my faith in man. And yes, it is tyranny!
Nor do I, but the weak and down trodden do.
Yes, and it is heartbreaking.
Thanks for dropping by the bigarmchair 🙂
Powerful poem. I’ve been to many of these places with the UN. Heartbreaking.
Thank you, tell me, were you a member of the UN PeaceCorps?
so true
And that makes it all the more saddening.
yes..
Amazingly written.
Thank you.
That is a beautiful and very sad poem. The imagery is amazing, I can see all of it, the blood, ,the graves and the walls. The motherless babies and childless mothers. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much, and you are welcome to stop by and apprise me of your thoughts.
Sure
This brings tears to the eyes…heartbreaking
To tell you the truth, my eyes were tear laden while writing this.
jazak Allah khair for sharing your beautiful poetry.
Beautiful poem
Thank you so much Ishaiya.
so beautiful and sad
Thank you Beth, it is sad indeed.
Reblogged this on Nafriki's Blog and commented:
poignant
You have such talent sir, please never stop sharing your art.
Thank you, with such well wishers I never intend to.
Very moving. There is something about your poetry that seems to bypass my brain and go straight to my heart. I feel it first then I have to re read it to understand it in my head as well as my heart.
Thank you so much Rachel, I am absolutely flattered.
This is absolutely beautiful. You are an amazing writer. It has been awhile since I read a poem that touched me like this. The way the words flow is seamless.
Thank you so much, you’re awfully kind
the theme of child and mother is nice. “I am the child of Sarajevo, have you seen my rose?” enjoyed this piece.
Thank you.
This poem is incredible. Not only does it contain all the elements of good poetry, but it includes your heart. The reader recognizes the pain that went into the writing. I can hear the sobs as you took us from victim to victim. I was limp by the time you were finished, but I had to read it again. Thank you.
Thank you very much Marie, you’re acknowledgement has been appreciated immensely.
whoa… That’s a really long poem … and really sensible… If you keep on writing this way… You will surely help in changing the world 🙂
Thank you so much, and I surely hope so.