Gaza’s Shadow



Gaza’s Shadow
By William He

Here death sleeps not far from them,
Stones that once were a house carrying stories and secrets,
Children’s eyes wide open without sin.
For years the cycle has bound them in pain,
A dance of violence with no end to the chain.
The groans of mothers pulsating over and over in the ears.
The trapped mosques make an orchestra of their hunger,
Who will brush off the dead leaves,      
The life constantly wears its black dress.
Gods play dice once again,
Sparing a thought for the indifference,
Reconciling offenders and making Justice drop her angry rod.

The wounds are turning into a kind of weaponry in a flash,
The world wondering what led them astray,
Endless dirge distilling a distinct urge.
Gaza In Lens flying high with no sound,
Tunnels anger revenge blood oaths burn,
Allah should have power to stop this troublesome people here,
Though Solomon's Temple gone from sight its memory bright,
When sorrow strikes the ground,
A tale of conflict, suffering and hopes.
Crumbling with the weight,
In tiny cracks along the sacred wall,
People are reading their Mincha-prayer in the mournful tones.

疏影 加沙
作者:何威廉

火曹尺咫,
见石头默祷,
地底凝视。
泣尽眸昏,
心脉无声,
旧鬼烦怨新鬼。
牵袍顿足清真寺,
两相摧、
吊殇谁至。
怅选民、
精魄何依,
几处今宵伤毁。

残血偏沾别泪,
内热焦肺腑,
髭愤髯悱。
夜行登宵,
地道幽通,
死海重生礼洗。
所罗门殿无消息,
亦怜恤、
乱危蚕蚁。
彼鼻息、
天地恩私,
忏悔哭墙缘罪。

About this poem

A poignant and evocative portrayal of the ongoing conflict and suffering in Gaza. The poem captures the enduring pain and longing for peace in a place marked by suffering and turmoil.

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Written on July 11, 2023

Submitted by chinamcc8 on December 07, 2023

Modified by chinamcc8 on December 07, 2023

1:14 min read
358

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XXXAAXXXXAXX XXXBXXXBXXXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,604
Words 247
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 12, 12, 2, 12, 12

William He

 · 1961

William Yu He graduated from two of the most prestigious law schools in China respectively, also studied in Heidelberg, Cambridge and Harvard. He has published dozens of classical poems and lyrics in Chinese language. Three of his poems were collected in the antholog “call my name and I 'll be there" published in February, 2024. He is know for five of his poems included in the anthology in English "Dancing on Moonbeams" published in USA in September, 2024. He already published his English poetry anthology "Eyes Wide Open: Poems by William He" in USA. The Incumbent President of China quoted his classic poem in 2017. The President of Harvard University recognized his achievements in June, 2021. more…

All William He poems | William He Books

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Discuss the poem Gaza’s Shadow with the community...

4 Comments
  • fafafafa
    A typo:
    Allah should have power to stop this>these troublesome people here,
    LikeReply4 months ago
    • fafafafa
      sorry I realized that people can be a synonym of nation
      LikeReply4 months ago
  • israel_u
    The noisy bickering of the whole world has not cowed Israel, in its fight for survival.
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • israel_u
    Gaza! Gaza!! Gaza all the way. A boiling point on planet earth.
    LikeReply4 months ago
  • Joshy1987
    Good piece of work
    LikeReply7 months ago

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"Gaza’s Shadow" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/175032/gaza’s-shadow>.

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