For Margaret Hassan (1945-2004)

[glaucon]

For Margaret Hassan (1945-2004)



Here
in the dust
of Nineveh where
Sennacherib wandered
among the human-headed bulls
you have come to end your journey
alone

You can feel the gun
Steely and cool
At the back of your head
Below the blindfold’s knot

Breathe now,
Slowly.
And as you inhale
Smell your fear, your sweat.

In the distance, a child’s voice:
Umm, arabic for Mother
Plaintive and afraid

Always remember
The children of Iraq
The lost, the maimed,
The twisted and tossed aside

They are the reason you are here now
Kneeling in the dirt, in the heat,
As you count the remaining beats of your broken heart

Breathe, count
Breathe, count

The click of the safety

And time stops

You make your last prayer
to any god or godess
passing by
who happens to be listening:

Make me a sparrow
That flys from Mosul
Up into the bright sky
High above the pain
and horror.
Give me a song
To sing to the children,
And lead them out of
the Nightmare land.

Ah, but who will be your sparrow
Margaret?

And as the emptiness
Of this world finally
Takes you by the throat
And the trigger is pulled

You see your own childhood memory,
The one you always knew would carry you
into oblivion:

Oh, mother! Father! Take me home, again.

[nofurylike]

1. gasp

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Wow.

;(