Eyeless in Gaza
           (For Rachel Corrie,
                   James Miller
            and Tom Hurdnall)

i remember how they interrupt the football
to bring us the scenes
'After all they've been through eh?’
he says, 'in 45'

he had liberated dejected skeletons
in striped pyjamas
so ill they could not eat the
proffered, sugar-rich, chocolate
nor inhale the cigarettes
which hung limp from
cold blue lips

his voice trembles with disbelief
as he lowers his black and tan;
'This is exactly what they
                        did to them!'

on the pub-television
giant bulldozers crush
Palestinian homes
and a young woman
megaphone raised
to protest peace
and tolerance
disappears under
the murderous tracks
…broken-backed
    Rachel Corrie dies in pain

'Nazi scum...'
he whispers
...a woman's sob
   echoes
   in the silent air

Tom lies comatose as
Jewish politicians lie
to the family
of this brain-dead boy
lie to the family
of a neutral voice
they silenced for speaking
neutral truths
for James too lies slab-dead
and cold in Gaza

'...if the good remain silent’
    he murmurs…
    but this time no one hears
    ‘if the Jews remain silent...’
     trips to deaf ears;
    ‘are they eyeless in Gaza?'

…we return to the football.