originally published 2010
We each have our own turf
we defend at any cost.
Boasting of our victories
dismissing what we’ve lost.
your words taste of poison
and mine like bitter wine
living here in our Palestine.
The roots of our discontent
have long become obscure.
It’s just a useful pretext
to see what we’ll each endure.
We revel in the glory
of each injustice we find,
living here, in our Palestine
We quibble over boundaries
and invade the others space.
We thrive on the discomfort
of each others falls from grace.
it’s no good way of living
but it’s what we now define
as a life, living in our Palestine.
Why don’t we give it a rest?
Aren’t you tired
of the constant misery?
Is there no safe refuge
from this unrelenting strife?
Is there no escaping history?
It’s a sign of our weakness
and our fear of compromise
that binds us to each other
in a web of spiteful lies.
We could mend this rift if only
we would dare cross the line
that divides us here
in our Palestine.
