By Andrea Lamb

To the Pearls of Gaza – the Palestinians

Imprisoned, trapped as Gazan sand
In clammed tight shells  —
oppression and death —
life seeks life, and struggles for breath.
These Sands resist apartheid hells.

Hideous torment– burns, white blasts,
Transfigures single grains to strength
thru pain, the strength that strengthens
forms these jewels with will
to live yet death to face, 
These lustrous Pearls of Gaza.

Outside the horror, beyond the Strip
World’s truth itself suppressed and pale
A shadow of all humanity that was, but now
lives mummified, in lies reeked stale.
Against the darkened world of hate,
Truth’s light — these lustrous Pearls of Gaza.

– Andrea Lamb is a librarian residing in Baltimore, Maryland, and a free lance writer.  She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.