Palestine

 

A woman standing in the blown rubble

and twisted steel of her house,

sees no sense in war.

Asks the collapsed walls what

strategic advantage has been gained

in blowing up her kitchen;

the kitchens up and down the street,

both sides

and all the parallel streets.

What military plans were the children

of the area drawing up

in copies concealed beneath their homework;

and what now

with winter coming

and thirst and hunger,

and no husband?

Standing in the blown rubble,

the street in her house;

sky in her house

her children waiting outside, tatters of war.