the grief builds up

when it spills over

it touches everyone

can you imagine

…upon hearing this news

that it is not one pain or the other

one grief or the other

one safety or the other

one wound winds through us all

gaping wide

festering, blooming

can you not imagine

…hearing this news

with a wide enough heart

for the grief of each parent

for the grief of each child

the land grieves too

the whole earth breaks

on the shores of gaza

we must imagine

…before the fissure scars

we must all imagine freedom

if we want that future

beyond all war

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