Early Mourning in Palestine #Poetry #Art

Early mourning 

in Palestine,

not an unusual start,

children proceed play

fledgling friendships

in mourn’ they depart.

The child an unbroken dove

white, purity, innocence’s laid

in a nest of love, a red 

vibrance of love

The processional wailing

in protest, in the streets, 

fathers, mothers

heads hung… beating 

at their chests.

Early mourning in Palestine

not unusual, lay witness

the children of the morning

play with abandoned bliss

in forgetfulness of the dispute, 

while our olive trees 

weep their weighted

heavy fruit.

Children come running

home, to report 

another hit, 

a stray bullet

or perhaps, on purpose 

in aim, to land

no claim,

to lay in prayer

in early mourn’ 

They came-

the washed out, 

white’s hanging 

like grapes on vines,

the demolitions proceed

to wreck their hearts

and minds.

Early mourning in Palestine,

not an unusual start.

Poetry and Artwork ©Jay Mora-Shihadeh

#Palestine #Children #Funeral