Tug of war

I

Tug of war

Of men women and more

Adults and children

Arms wrung tight and tye died in red

Covered in dust

Forming ropes and strands

French braids all cramped and stamped

Underneath the shooting stars

Shooting at the stars

In the barren strip of Gaza

They all tore to shreds

And then they froze to death

II

Tug of war

A hug of gore

Piles of dead bodies upon the land and its pores

Exposed rib cages became garden bed upon neglect

Gun powder as fertiliser 

Bullets as seeds

Parachatues against rifle barrels forming greenhouses

The running children

Healthy and fat

They ate apples for dinner

And their mothers roasted potatoes

III

Tug of war 

Alarms glaroe

Naked bodies burning

Thank fuck they are dead

Otherwise they would feel how awfully alone

They really are right now

How no one cares

The English devils

Have long wiped their hands clean

Puppets lynched off their own strings

All foreign aid came with attached strings

But as people dies

The strings they tore

Earlier this afternoon I saw

Fireflies landing on machine guns

And butterflies on helmets

Through my TV screen, on a land abroad

A gigantic

Tug of war

IV

Amir is 12

So is David

They had just come back home from a religious ceremonies

Two different religions

Two different gods

But the same public holiday

Same time off

No school

Only a couple hours till dinner till night fall

They both chased stray dogs around the streets

The beautiful buildings of Palestine

A flourishing nation

Intact bricks and fresh paint on walls

Amir doesn't like wearing shoes

His feet are covered in dust

And David doesn't really get along with his sister 

But he does with Amir

That's why they hangout a lot

Both of them are going to grow up to be restaurant owners

Internationally renowned

And in their restaurants they are going to serve what their mothers made for them almost every night

When they were 12

Spiced potatoes

Different legumes and grains of all shapes and colours

Getting along well with each other

All in one pot

Bound by harmonies, compromise and care

Not divided

All in one pot

To be eated either with rice or naan bread

Gathered around the table with everyone you love

All praise given to all gods that are great and their glory

Before they lay their heads on pillows in each others company and safety

To wake up to see the sun shine tomorrow

And do it, all over again

Baby Sparky