I just received word that the British poet and writer Michael Rosen, 2007 British Children's Laureate, read a new poem last weekend at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, in London. The Tanjara blog has video of the actual reading which included children reading the names of 30 children who have died in that conflict. This is a tragic situation no matter what your point of view, and this acknowledgement of the price children pay is particularly poignant. The poem begins:In Gaza, children,
you learn that the sky kills
and that houses hurt.
You learn that your blanket is smoke
and breakfast is dirt.
You learn that cars do somersaults
clothes turn red,
friends become statues,
bakers don't sell bread.
Read the rest of the poem at The Tanjara.
Image credit: www.time.com
4 comments:
Poet Douglas Florian on the Children of Sderot, Bersheva, Ashkelon, and Ashod, Israel.
Michael Rosen wrote a poem on the suffering of the children of Gaza.
I have a question for Mr. Rosen: Where was his poem when more than 3,000 rockets and mortar shells terrorized and targeted the children of Sderot, Bersheva Ashod, and Ashkelon in Israel during 2008 alone? Where was his poem when suicide/homicide bombers killed hundreds of innocent women and children in Israel? Where was his poem when Hamas trained children to be terrorists? (see for yourself on Youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTGbP55HGi8
And where was his poem when Hamas built hundreds of tunnels for 10 foot missiles from Iran, yet did not build a single shelter for its civilians, and has used its civilians as human shields, a violation of the Geneva Convention?
I mourn the death and injury of ALL children and ALL civilians. And I pray for peace in both Gaza and the state of Israel, as well as the rest of the world.
Thank you for reminding us of the suffering of children on both sides. I join you in a prayer for peace in BOTH Israel and Gaza and for the safety of ALL children. If you know of other poems I could share reflecting other places and points of view, please do let me know.
Thank you, Sylvia
Why isn't Rosen rhyming about the real enemies of the children of Gaza? Their enmeies are the terrorists who use them as human shields, who shoot from their homes and schools and them complain when those they target shoot back. The enemies of the children of Gaza are the terrorists of Hamas.
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