This week, before the celebration of the birth of Christ in Beit Layem in a week’s time, Israeli leaders and their U.S. handlers continue their vicious bombardment and genocide of Gaza and its people. It is with a heavy heart that we witness no mercy. From occupation to apartheid to genocide, settler colonialism seems to follow the tried and true path of violence and brutality decried by Franz Fanon, Aime Cesaire, Edward Said and many, many others. I continue to share the works of those opposed to this genocide and to share in the voices and visions of Palestinian cultural producers. Now more than ever we need to speak up. against the killings of civilians, children, the infirm, the disabled, the elderly, the men, the writers, the poets, the artists, the musicians, the theatre workers, the school teachers, the mothers, the nurses, the doctors, and the journalists. Everyone who was killed is someone’s everything. Don’t stop speaking about Palestine. Ceasefire now.

Here I share another poem by the young poet, Mosab Abu Toha, who, at 31 years of age, is managing to reach North American and international audiences through the publication of his book, ” Things Found in My Ear”, by City Lights Press. It has won the American Book Award of the year. 

stones of house after explosion get Alzheimer’s
some forget they were in a wall in a bedroom or a kitchen or a bathroom
some in a ceiling
some forget they sat behind photo frames for years
a few stones [forget] they were stones
those hit by the bomb

Mosab Abu Toha