The Boy Who Loved Apricots
A poem for Omar and the thousands of children killed by Israel
A poem for Omar and the thousands of children killed by Israel
for Omar Qasem Abu Sharqiya
Buzzing mosquitoes circled his left ear the summer of his birth.
His mother fanned him with her wedding scarf.
Tatreez threads telling stories of fishermen who pulled morning from their nets.
She swatted at the warm air,
a guard against the ones desperate for the blood of the boy who simply loved apricots.
And after nine years of waiting for a son,
the buzzing found its blood.
please don’t put him in the refrigerator his mother says.
he doesn't like the cold.
This poem is a tribute to Omar and the thousands of children bombed by Israel. Those children crushed under rubble. Those children sniped. Those children who are slowly starving as Israel continues their blockade. We see you. We hear you. We do not abandon you. You will be free. You will feel peace.
A memorial was held in Nanaimo waterfront park bandstand for Gaza’s martyred children. Names of babies and children who died before their tenth year were read out. A minute of silence held for each year. The crowd of about 100 souls was silent throughout. Thousands more names scrolled by on a screen. Poetry was read, a harpist played delicate music. Speakers wept openly. The silent crowd could hear distant sounds of children in the park playing in the sunshine. It was a time of grieving, of solemnity and the silent vow to never ever give up.
I’m struggling to find the words today, thank you for sharing this, I will always remember the boy who loved apricots 💔