A prayer for the beaches of Gaza

by Ruth Goring

Before the ruin
when the sea was green breaking to white
and children chased each other
when the sun was life
and they picnicked: olives, hummus, bread

After the ruin
with my sister I walk among giants of rock
on the south coast of Oregon
Angels, old and black,
chant their subduction
the clash of volcanoes, islands
and small continents shoved up against
the continental plate

In Gaza the ruin has not ended
With no thought of beaches
hounded children crouch in tents
Their parents seek just a little flour
for bread

Dear angels of subduction
we set our hands on your vast shoulders
we ask for your strength
we pray against ruin

Before we rose, in the daylight of Gaza
bombs rained on the camps
and demolished		demolished
one father, four children in a tent

One mother is left
and she has no feet

What is this world
What is this crashing
What raided the house of our belonging
left doors swinging on broken hinges
What suffocates us all
What ruin

Dear sentinels, dear Old Ones
we are not strong like you
we need our feet
we need gentleness and food
Dear God in heaven
come to the beaches of Gaza
and the tents, come now

Tell us
how we live in this bombing
or far away from it
with helpless hands

I walk out to one of the giants
lean against its ancient bulk
A wave rolls in over my feet
How do I live

Author: ruthgoringbooks

Poet, writer-illustrator of books for children and adults, artist, editor, lover of Colombia. Poeta, escritora e ilustradora de libros para niñxs y adultxs, artista, editora, amante de Colombia. View all posts by ruthgoringbooks