The World's Deaf Ears

By Samih Al-Qassem

We roamed the wilderness of this east
While our Jailers enjoyed a great feast
Give! they said, and we generously gave
And they sent our first born to an early grave.

We suffered the nightmares of deadly night
While the world ignored our dreadful plight
And our children were deprived of life
While our mothers plunged into strife.

We pleaded to every norm, convention, declaration
That man made since the start of creation
We asked for nothing but our basic needs
A home, a shade, a field to sow our seeds.

We gave a lot of blood, sweat and tears
But our cry continues to fall on deaf ears!