Hamza al-Khatib (We must not forget why there's war in Syria)

Hamza al-Khatib,

smiled sweetly.

Was he thinking of school

and soccer, or friends

waiting to play

when they caught him,

roughly hauled him into their white van

took him to their station, and demanded

confession

from his glistening tears,

from his tender face flushed

with confusion and fear?

They would make of him

an example

of what happens to those

who pursue happiness

in Assad’s Syria.

But you, weeping parents,

you-tube us your tortured child’s

distorted face, gaping chest

torn arms,  dishonored genitals.

Show us how

Assad destroys your future.

O parents of Syria, rise up

and send Assad 

to cower before heaven’s gate

as Allah

gently cradles

your slaughtered

children.

(7 June 2011)

  

(Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Hamza_Ali_Al-Khateeb)