(x = space)

x

x

Blameworthy

x

I can blame

I’ll take the side of Israel

Though this time ‘round

There were other people there

When they returned

Like the Canaanites

I suppose

From Bible school

x

And shall I blame

Hope for trumpets

Toppling Jericho

And fire from breaking urns

Surrounding Midia

x

Is it possible

To weep for land

For everyone on land

To have a home

x

I rent mine

It isn’t nice

But there are no explosions here

Unless the furnace blows

Or there’s a plane

Falling

Whose engine is the last thing

I shall hear

x

Meaning everywhere is delicate

I suppose

Everywhere is fragile Earth

With fragile people on it

Fragile war

That tears apart

The fabric of two people

Rent for love

Sometimes

Or satisfaction

Or in the ritual triumph

Of human judgment

x

But lives are torn

The limbs

Muscles

And bones

Organs shut down

Or live ones acting

To help the others

Shot

Or shrapneled

Or the everything

Atomized

Near the missile’s

Falling

Landing

x

I am frightened

So are you

War does not

In fact

Breed confidence

Fire a gun

Wish it were over

Launch a missile

Hoping that the war will end

With that

x

Our fluid thoughts

And justifications

But there’s real loss

To square

And for now

In this

Is anyone

Considering

At least the people

On all sides

Who want to live

And now

(700, 500)

Have had that robbed

Of them

x

Russia inspires

Perhaps

With current policies

That have led

To so many dying

Destroyed on either side

(worse in Ukraine)

And there

Are other nations

Backing

Sides

x

Our Congress is included

And the people

In our churches

In the streets

Who have a reason

To protest

And pinch

The politicians forward

x

And are there strings

Is there a puppet-master

I don’t know

I want it over

Punishing Hamas

And leaving people

Real people

To stanch the blood

Clean up the streets

Rebuild interiors

x

And somehow

Live together

And have life

x

C L Couch

x

x

Photo by Pierry Oliveira on Unsplash

x

Live: ‘No electricity, no food, no water’: Israel orders ‘complete siege’ of Gaza

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, blocking the entry of food and fuel into the enclave and cutting the electricity and water supply. The death toll from the conflict between Israel and Hamas rose to more than 1,200, including around 700 people killed in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

Issued on: 09/10/2023 – 04:41Modified: 09/10/2023 – 15:03

17 min

France 24

9:09 a.m. EDT

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