Spring outside my window feels
far away,
its freshness and hope
another galaxy I only imagine,
too abstract for comprehension
when there is blood on white trousers,
five finger bruises embedded in the soft flesh
of an underarm that once held
a violin, disappearing
into terror amidst
a jeering crowd who have forgotten
their humanity. And we,
too, have forgotten ours, luxuriating
in our far away country of comfort
and privilege. We are docile
as sheep following a shepherd
into an empty field, oblivious
of the the wolf who could
find us, his savagery turn on us,
become ours. Even
as placards predict what could be.
*
I am appalled by the lack of voices from our country’s women leaders to the plight of the female victims of Hamas, especially yesterday during International Women’s Day. I am appalled by the lack of voices raised against the growing antisemitism in our country. This poem is in response to a video of 19 year old Agam Berger, bound and bloody, being shoved into a car by a terrorist, surrounded by screaming people. I think of these women, 14 alive and 5 dead, every day.
https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/03/07/14-women-still-held-hostage-gaza/
Thank you for this beautiful post.
Thank you, Charlotte, for being one voice ringing out in the silence. Beautiful, heart-breaking poem. Sending so much love and gratitude.