PORTRAIT OF ME AS BREAD BAKING IN JERUSALEM

[poppyromanov]

I WAS THERE! I WAS THERE! I WAS ALWAYS
THERE! A BALL OF DOUGH INFLATING
UPON THE SAJ UNTIL IT FELL INTO WARMTH.
I WAS THERE! A BREAKFAST LAID OUT UNDER THE
OLIVE TREES AFTER AN EARLY MORNING HARVEST.
I WAS THERE! FILLED WITH SALTY CHEESE WHILE
FISH BOBBED FOR WATERMELONS IN THE ICY LAKE.
THERE, BY THE CHURCH IN ICRITH, TO SERVE
ALONGSIDE FIGS, TREES NEVER PREDICTING
THEY WERE SOON TO BE ORPHANED. I
WAS THERE! LEFT ON THE TABLE NEXT
TO STILL-WARM CUPS OF TEA, THE SHUFFLE
OF KEYS BEING STOWED. I WAS THERE,
SETTLERS SETTING FIRE TO LAND. I WAS THERE
TRUNKS FALLING TO SOOT. I WAS THERE,
EARTH MOURNING THE BODIED ASH.
I WAS THERE, A PEOPLE DISPOSSESSED.
I WAS ALWAYS THERE. I AM ALWAYS HERE.
THE FIRST MADE ALONG RIVER BANKS, GRAINS OLDER
THAN SETTLER THAN STATE THAN TANKS
THAN BORDERS THAN BOMBS THAN
BRITISH THAN EMPIRE & STILL
NEVER LEAVE THE HANDS THAT MADE ME!