{"id":269957,"date":"2024-07-22T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=269957"},"modified":"2024-07-21T05:48:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-21T04:48:37","slug":"he-called-the-dog-habibi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/07\/he-called-the-dog-habibi\/","title":{"rendered":"He Called the Dog Habibi"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

He called the dog \u201chabibi\u201d
\n\u2014\u200amy darling\u200a\u2014
\nas it mauled him to death<\/a>
\nwhile his family listened nearby.<\/p>\n

They had never heard him speak before.
\nHe had the mind of an infant.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough, my darling,\u201d Muhammed said to the dog,
\nbecause it was killing him,
\nand because he was in pain,
\nand because his family had spoken to him
\nso lovingly all his life.<\/p>\n

Those were the words he knew.
\nThat\u2019s how he was spoken to.
\nThat\u2019s what you say to someone
\nwhen you need them to stop.
\nWhen you need them to listen.
\nWhen their behavior is challenging,
\nbut you have deep love in your heart.<\/p>\n

Enough, my darling.
\nEnough, my darling.
\nAs Gaza burns: enough, my darling.
\nEnough.<\/p>\n

As attack dogs on two legs
\nsend attack dogs on four legs
\nto bite and maul and kill:
\nEnough, my darling.
\nEnough.<\/p>\n

A murder of crows
\nfollows a murder of IDF soldiers,
\ncawing, \u201cEnough, my darling.
\nEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bombed out hospitals.
\nThe children without limbs.
\nThe sniper drones playing recorded babies\u2019 cries
\nto try and lure out civilians.
\nThe attack dog maulings.
\nThe hunger.
\nThe fear.
\nEnough, my darling.
\nEnough.<\/p>\n

As we kill our planet
\nand kill each other
\nbecause we cannot act kindly,
\ncannot let love guide us,
\ncannot call off the dogs,
\ncannot rescue their victims,
\ncannot stop the attack,
\ncannot awaken from our confusion,
\nthe stars call down to us from above:
\nEnough, habibi.
\nEnough, my darling.<\/p>\n

Enough.<\/p>\n

Enough.<\/p>\n

Enough.<\/p>\n

\n

"I cannot bear to think of what they did to him, or how they left him to die like this"<\/p>\n

– Nabila Ahmed Bhar, Muhammed's mother<\/p>\n

Palestinian with Down syndrome "left to die" by Israeli soldiers after combat dog attackhttps:\/\/t.co\/3Azb2Q2XVx<\/a><\/p>\n

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n