I must listen to the birds

and in order to hear the birds, the war planes must be silent.

“In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political, I must listen to the birds, and in order to hear the birds, the war planes must be silent.” —Marwan Makhoul

What is there for me to say?

I feel sick with grief. I am in mourning, I am overwhelmed.

I watch videos heavy with killed Palestinian bodies, pulled from the rubble of gone homes. Gone hospital…