Gaza

 

Real people are killed

When people are real

They can be killed

If they are not real

They are not people

And cannot to be killed

But if they are killed

Their artery sliced

By a white hot

Metal shard flying

Their femur crushed

By something whistling oddly

Too swiftly through the air

If they fall and bleed

When they receive a bullet

Between two ribs

Then they are people

Pleasant or unpleasant

Curious or dull

Friendly or grouchy

Not figures sketched by words

Cut out propped up and

Put on a carousel spinning

In the mind

Forms that may flash

Into crackling flames

Ephemeral things

Of no consequence

Curiosities

High quantity non-events

If they stumble

Hurrying down the road

Away from their home

And misunderstand

A loudspeaker command

And stop 8 seconds too late

And take a baton to the brain

And stop moving

If they leave bread in the oven

Because of a dread feeling

In the seventh house

Where they have slept

In 17 days

And trundle down the road

Pushing a stroller

With a jewelry box

Velvet pillows

And a toddler on top

And they become

Hungry and very thirsty

And they learn that

Their destination is also

Receiving missiles

Then they are people

Real people