Love Poem: Palestinian Time Behind Us
Sigrid Ermine Avatar
Written by: Sigrid Ermine

Palestinian Time Behind Us

Harrowing shifts placating Palestinian patients
Awkwardly healing bones, injuries war caused
Comfort we gave seemed severely insufficient
Soul mates meeting among pain, implausible 

Crutch hobbling boy with copious haphazard grin
Caught both our hearts, we smuggled him chocolate 
You took every free chance to sit and joke with him
Your easy demeanor is medicine, patients responded 

Images of rubble sifting shadow-faced citizens
Inescapable magnitude replayed, dream tethered
Impact we made upon fractured limbs and spirits
Told us each smile gained was worthy endeavour 

I've speculated our distance pronounced our parallels 
A far, foreign land artificially grew our new love found
Strongest logic shows me your benevolence plentiful
Desire stunned us, despite draped shapeless gowns

A year improvising in Gaza's limping hospice system
Threatened to take my buoyancy amongst its tragedy
Compassion you dealt exposed a myriad of wisdom
Guardians of burden bandaged turmoil's inched recovery

Excitement of moving in together, calm logic forgotten
Several short weeks after Gaza, shared goals discussed
A jubilant wedding, white gown without tie backed cotton
Box pile totems, future unpacked together, a time for us




           17th August 2020 

           JCB Burl,   Sponsor

      Contest,   'A Time For Us'