Poem: Portrait of a Palestinian Woman

Poem: Portrait of a Palestinian Woman

Her face tells
a thousand words weave
herstory about
late husband killed
by Israeli soldier’s bullet.
IOF’s assault on

Palestinian life five children
lost their father
a cab driver at
checkpoint
I.D.
During interrogative
questions he said:

“I am here, the blood
of our land Palestine,”
next to occupation’s trigger
finger - and

Now the woman wraps
Her arms
around children
tight, as if she sews
them close to her waist,
where memories of
womb remain. Turn
around

Babes with
velvet smiles that
caress mother’s skin
as she earns
the bread she kneads
for mouths
at wooden table. Under

Her watchful eyes
they play outside
surrounded by
razor-wire fences where
petite palms picked
a crimson anemone,
and legs rushed
stem petals
to her hands. While
they look out

The window, wait
for a past return. At
night the woman prays
until she weeps -
her tears
bring angels
to their knees…near

The day
a good man will see
how fortunate
he would be
to marry a woman
whose spirit
moves children to

Radiant cheeks
that feel moments
when her heart
ablaze
at the sight
of jacaranda tree –
where purple flowers
whisper
white butterflies
flutters
fly sunshine
silhouettes
wings.

- by Sonia Nettnin