The Poem: Verses from Gaza

The siege is a waiting period.

Waiting on the tilted ladder in the middle of the storm.

( Mahmoud Darwish )

My home collapsed, the wall clock remained.

The wall collapsed, on went The clock.

( Samih al-Qasim )

Three religions buried inside a city’s walls.

Some kiss the walls; some walk beside them, emptied of belief.

( Naomi Shihab Nye )

If the cries of the little ones cant stop them

Know that they are already dead.

( Abdul Wajid )

The foot soldiers will find no ground

Their jackboots will melt on their way

( Roza Denice )

When these children would walk to the God,

Imagine what would they tell Him?

( Mirza Iqbal )

They may destroy the concrete walls,

But not the will of the souls within.

( Mirza Iqbal )

I can't chant for peace and freedom,

They took the bead of Gaza from my rosary.

( Judy De Villiers )

Body will die a thousand deaths.

Stay firm, oh my little soul.

( Ayesha Hussain )

Oh Gaza, don't be afraid of doing the right thing.

Even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed, the Bible says.

( Nafisa Khan )