Moon over Gaza

I am lonely
for my friends.
They liked me,
trusted my coming.
I think they looked up at me
more than other people do.

I who have been staring down so long
see no reason for the sorrows humans make.
I dislike the scuffle of bombs blasting
very much. It blocks my view.

A landscape of grieving
feels different afterwards.
Different sheen from a simple desert,
rubble of walls, silent children who once said
my name like a prayer.

Sometimes I am bigger than
a golden plate,
a giant coin,
and everyone gasps.

Maybe it is wrong
that I am so calm.

Some say Israel would be happiest
if we just disappeared. Like in a magic show?
Our magic is that we are
still here and were always here.

excerpt from Harvest

Yesterday evening after rain
the world tilted rosy

such a brief slip of minutes
as if someone got her wish

excerpt from Each Day We Are Given So Many Gifts

The Space We're In

echoes deeply
Time doesn't just crumble
the minute you turn the calendar page
I'm not sure about a country being great
I don't know what that means
It sounds like bragging or more weapons
I want a country to be nice to all people
Make them feel better
than people feel by themselves
Compassionate and gentle
I want people to
move more slowly
pay better attention
share what they have

In the old Palestinian tradition
everyone was invited in
Sit down, coffee or tea?
Mint in your tea?
Dates?
even if you didn't know the visitor

America being mean to Palestine
is nothing new
reminds me of
the dark side of junior high school
those who think you can have
only one best friend
usually end up
lonely

No Explosions

To enjoy
fireworks
you would have
to have lived
a different kind
of life