by tom bauer
United States Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has introduced a resolution to recognise the Palestinian Nakba, the term used to describe the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians before and during the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. —AlJazeera, May 11, 2023
The United Nations for the first time on Monday officially commemorated the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the war surrounding the creation of Israel 75 years ago, drawing a sharp response from the Israeli ambassador to the world body. —The New York Times, May 15, 2023
how long the shame of saying words all wrong
not knowing who is right or wrong in harm.
how long to never criticize for fear
of self-betrayal, life, and friend-betrayal,
the edge betrayals of a world of stone.
the concrete streets and building fronts are full.
emptiness is everywhere in loneliness.
whatever loss there is, life returns in full.
spring flowers come again in spring for all.
it is but one promise of being in life.
we must not waste it all, we cannot waste
it all, we dare not waste it all again.
a moving field of faces growing warm
in sunlight, yellow sand, dusky nights, rain
refreshing all the land, crumbly when
we climb the yielding earth with fresh roots.
how long to never criticize for fear
of self-betrayal, life, and friend-betrayal,
the edge betrayals of a world of stone.
the concrete streets and building fronts are full.
emptiness is everywhere in loneliness.
whatever loss there is, life returns in full.
spring flowers come again in spring for all.
it is but one promise of being in life.
we must not waste it all, we cannot waste
it all, we dare not waste it all again.
a moving field of faces growing warm
in sunlight, yellow sand, dusky nights, rain
refreshing all the land, crumbly when
we climb the yielding earth with fresh roots.
tom bauer lives in montreal with his sons and plays boardgames.