the grief builds up

when it spills over

it touches everyone

 

can you imagine

…upon hearing this news

that it is not one pain or the other

one grief or the other

one safety or the other

 

one wound winds through us all

gaping wide

festering, blooming

 

can you not imagine

…hearing this news

with a wide enough heart

for the grief of each parent

for the grief of each child

 

the land grieves too

the whole earth breaks

on the shores of gaza

 

we must imagine

…before the fissure scars

we must all imagine freedom

if we want that future

beyond all war