From Bethlehem, Palestine

I wrote this upon my "safe" return to Bethlehem from a trip abroad.

All souls wondering find peace in the place of birthing I, a lost soul, find it here in Bethlehem A holy place cursed now by mayhem Palestine where the first humans out of Africa ventured

Settling a land of beauty and bounty, Canaan they called Our fore fathers and mothers first domesticated animals and plants and prospered in peace and harmony respecting the Gods and even the ants Where the Shepherds heard angels sing And in a manger was born a savior king

Where a prophet told us this is the last vanguard one who ascended to heaven and told us to be on guard Where ancestors invented laws and the alphabet and a fertile crescent they created with their sweat

Where they managed to transcend adversity and respected biological and human diversity Cultural and natural heritage were well guarded they dwelled under one God (Al-Ela) regarded

But a dark storm came with strangers whose quest for "manifest destiny" endangers who said the land belonged not to first nation but to a chosen people from Europe by dictation

Crusaderism Zionism Millions do suffer while the rich get richer

We can't sleep thinking of Khalid Nabhan, a most gentle kindred one year after Reem & Tareq (grandchildren) were martyred Soul of my soul he repeatedly stated Now they are eternally united

We get paralyzed thinking of friends sacrificed Zionists aided by blackmailed politicians make people de-huanized villified terrified

Might is right they declare Of a higher power they are not aware Living under apartheid we wonder When our turn to be killed or injured and ponder Whether we lived with enough grace and dignity? Whether we made the right choices & fostered unity?

Did we spend enough time with good people, family, friends, activists? Did we waste some time trying to convince racists or hanging with pessimists? Mistakes made (we all do)- but have from our lessons, learned? egos subdued, sometimes, and only then is respect earned!

How do we learn not to look away from suffering? to offer a kind word, food, shelter to those enduring.... a genocide, ecocide, educide, medicide, and omnicide and massacres of the truth - a veriticide.

We reread the beginning...ethnic cleansing and today's millions of candles shining For human rights we strive and we keep hope alive

In every street, in every corner, and in every heart People united for a freedom, a road they chart In our thousands in our millions we are all Palestinians

They will never break the spirits of 15 million Palestinians let alone billions who stand together tall For a better future for ALL

May 2025 be the year of peace

Stay Humane and keep hope alive