By Katherine Mukhar

(Dedicated to the Palestinians in their continual fight for freedom)

Vultures swoop above
While I, their future prey,
Must stand alone
Beneath the sun
To face my death
Without an ounce of fear.
I will not succumb
To what the hawks have
Deemed to be my fate.
Stripped of all I own
I stand with
Dignity…
Pride.

Force me on my knees…
I will stand again!
Strangle me with all your might…
I will  breathe again!
Bulldoze what I built…
I will  build again!
Try to kill my soul
But it will live again!

Remember this:
Go tell your sons
Each time I die
My passion will rekindle
In the children
Of my daughters
And my sons.

And don’t forget to tell them
Each time you killed me…

I died standing!