Poem for a little girl in Gaza, using some of her words:
who is left?
my parents, she said quietly
who is gone?
my brother and sister
can you sleep?
no, her voice barely above a whisper,
I shake at the noise, any noise
you must be tired?
exhausted and scared, she said flatly
and food? what do you eat?
donkey food, she said eyes dark and
depthless, empty
it’s disgusting, but it’s all we have
she said, with finality
and your home?
what home, she said, turning away
it’s gone
© Angela Jooste