Your sisters stayed in their palaces
\nWith golden chains and shameless lies
\nSome grinned and aided criminals…
\nOthers chose to veil their eyes
\nSome justify rape and expulsions
\nOthers prayed to their silent gods.<\/p>\n
When you thought they had their fills
\nIn that dry June of decays,
\nThey climbed over the hills
\nTo finish the ghastly deeds<\/p>\n
Sickening became the violations
\nDark masses on your strong arms
\narms that gently lifted orphans
\nArmenian, Circasian, Hebrew and Druze
\nFractures on your white breasts
\nThat gave milk to hungry babies
\nBruises on your gentle fingers
\nThat wiped the tears from so many eyes
\nYour sad eyes bear their marks
\non a kind face that gave millions hopes<\/p>\n
Maddening deafening sounds
\nOf violent bloody rapes
\nOf countless lengthy reports
\nOf motions, plans, and resolutions
\nthat sacrificed justice and truths
\nat the altar of greedy egos<\/p>\n
Where goes the hope of children dreams?
\nIn awakening consciences?
\nIn olive trees or returning cactuses?
\nIn time, distance, or struggles?
\nIn awakening heart deep in majestic mountains?
\nBeating beneath silent deserts?
\nOccasionally erupting ‘intifadas’?
\n1920..29..36..56..87…2000…<\/p>\n
The lost men hopelesly lust for power crums
\nendlessly argue about keys
\nWhile she struggles to break the doors
\nAnd tear down the suffocating walls
\nClans and Tribes follow mirages
\nand weaklings imagine strength in lies<\/p>\n
But in the end no one denies
\nYour ancient spirit survives
\nTo help heal all bruises
\nyours and ours
\nWhen the sun again shines
\nO Palestine<\/p>\n
__________________________________________<\/p>\n
Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh is a member of the<\/em> TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment<\/a>,<\/em> author of <\/em>Sharing the Land of Canaan and <\/em>Popular Resistance in Palestine. He is a professor at Bethlehem University and director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History in <\/em>Bethlehem.<\/em> http:\/\/palestinenature.org<\/a><\/p>\n