In the South

Rawad Wehbe

Inmates of the earth, roam
freely on my land.
Raid my people
grind them.
Roam, raid
grind my spine.
My heart won’t surrender.
My heart won’t bleed or surrender.
The fever of shame unravels
in fever’s infinite slumber.
My heart won’t bleed or surrender,
my blind deaf mute heart.

Simple Speech

Simple speech
hardened, burned
and devoured my eyes. When it swallowed
the expansive clear sky
the shade
and the high noon sun
it left me nothing of my true home:
not its snows, meadows, gulfs, oceans
not even traces a fly leaves behind on a map.
* * *
Simple speech
Simple speech