by Andrew Hede

Hamas hostages
massacre survivors in
netherworld darkness
initial helplessness
descends into hopelessness ~
witnessing from afar brings
deep sadness tinged with despair

a young boy
weeps beside his parents
wrapped in white shrouds
their home a heap of rubble
on a street of bombed buildings ~
I ponder on his future
as a victim of hatred

sitting alone as
a line of tanks rumbles by
a frail old woman
holds a hand-painted sign
on a flattened aid carton
‘will we ever have peace
in our God-forsaken land?’

• Gaza, Middle-East