Insh’Allah

‘When they broke my arms with rocks
I could no longer wield a sling . . .’

( i )

This day – God willing – I enter Paradise.
Sometime after sunset.
Jerusalem.  West, of course.

Join my brother:
my picture like his
plastered on every pole
spattered across every wall.

My soul blown free
(he never told us: his own blood! )
the whole sorry mess.              

My death become the fundamental meaning of my life.


( ii )

‘Shabat shalom!’  ‘Shabat shalom!’

bent on their sabbath meal
nodding singing greeting
candles burning cutlery clattering
looking up to see me:  who what the no no n           

O they will know me!
Know my nation invincible in their midst!
                                                                                                                       
Know my enmity
enmity deep as tooth and bone
my own skull my own enamel
smashing into shrapnel!

I will kill as many as I can.
I will make that count before I flick the switch.

Shabat shalom.


( iii )

men women children all blown to kingdom come

the way to Paradise


a hail of human bone and blood:


my soul blown free


burns a moment brighter than day                                 


fire
fire and sword
the Word incarnate

– a place amongst the Martyrs –


my little sisters fed.