" Tell My Children" A Poem of Ahmed Miqdad (Gaza)

 

Tell my children,

I tried to be their fortified shield

To protect them from the enemy

But I was so weak.

Tell my children,

I pretended to be like a big mountain

To deter the heavy bombs

But I failed.

Tell my children,

I pretended to be strong enough

To make them feel safe

While I was internally fatigued.

Tell my children,

I fought the miserable conditions

To bring them crumbles of bread

And I barely got some.

Tell my children,

I wish I could protect them with my bare body

But my worn shoulders can't endure more burdens.

Tell my children,

While they were screaming

The civilized world was dumb and deaf

And it wasn't successful 

To stop their slaughter.

Tell my children,

When they were suffering

The world was busy with human rights

But not your rights as humans.

Tell my children

About the complicit world 

That can only see with one eye

 And judge with double-standard scale.