I want to tell the world a story
About a home with a broken lantern
And a burnt doll
About a picnic that wasn’t enjoyed
About an axe that killed a tulip
A story about a fire that consumed a plait
a story about a tear that couldn’t run down
I want to tell a story about a goat that wasn’t milked
About a mother’s dough that wasn’t baked
About a wedding that wasn’t celebrated
And a baby girl that didn’t grow up
About a football that wasn’t kicked
About a dove that didn’t fly
I want to tell a story about a key that wasn’t used
About a classroom that wasn’t attended
About a playground that was silenced
About a book that wasn’t read
About a besieged lonely farm
And about its fruits that weren’t picked
About a lie that wasn’t discovered
A story about a church that’s no longer prayed in
And a mosque that no longer stands
And a culture no longer rejoiced
I want to tell a story about a muddy grassy roof
About a stone that faced a tank
And about a stubborn flag that refuses to lie down
About a spirit that cannot be defeated
I want to tell the world a story
Now light a little candle for Palestine
You can do it
Light a candle One little candle
Watch the darkness fade away
Just try it out
One ray of light
Wipes away the gloomiest
Jet-black nights
As the dawn breaks
Just observe
Can you see that
All the might of darkness
In the world
Cannot extinguish
The faintest flicker
Of a beam of light
Light a candle
One little candle
Watch the darkness fade away
You can do it
Hey.. WORLD
Did you hear me?
I am a Jerusalem-born Palestinian refugee living in exile for over 42 years. I was forced to leave my homeland, Palestine at the age of seven during the six-day war. I am a mathematician by profession. I started writing about three years ago when my friends insisted I should write about my memories, experiences, and feelings as a Palestinian. I did… but it all came out -for some strange reason- sounding -as I am told- like poetry! So I self published two books (I Believe in Miracles, and Palestine, The True Story. Write to me at: nahidayasin@googlemail.com
AUTHOR: Nahida
27 April, 2010
Poetryforpalestine Blog
Original article published on 15 July 2008