(For H.G)
She rushes screaming from the sparkling sea the little girl
all gone
her father on all fours laying out the chicken,
hummus, salad, olives, bread, drooping belly
tender to the broiling sand
warmth
her two brothers start to kick a ball into the sun
laughter
soon as she finishes chapter 12 her older sister will dip in
waves
her uncle snoozing underneath his hat and beard
peace
Her mother with the overheated baby at her breast
song
Peace hat beard chicken laughter uncle breast baby hummus mother nails warmth bread sister sun ball waves brothers belly father picnic sand song salad love
all gone
the sea
rushes screaming from the little girl
On June 9, 2006, an Israeli Gunboat fired 8 missiles at a beach near the Gaza Strip municipality of Beit Lahia murdering eight Palestinians. At least thirty others were injured.The aftermath of the incident was captured on video and showed a distressed eleven-year-old girl, Huda Ghaliya, reacting to the loss of family members, most of whom were killed in the incident.
Poem from The Boy In The Ring (2007, Salmon), available from author at dlordan@hotmail.com
Dave Lordan 