NOVANEWS
by Nahida the Exiled Palestinian
When I visited my friend, we sat to watch the news together with her little girl Lina, who surprised us with her wisdom and compassion.
Six-year-old Lina
Sitting with her mum
In her world of dreams
Watching news
Gazing away
Abruptly she says
“Mama
You know
Those Jews
Who took our land
If suddenly
They changed their mind
Decided
To give it all back
Even our trees
And our food
Then they’d become poor
They wouldn’t have to worry
We will give them
Some of our food
Share with them
Every thing we have
Mama
We won’t be bad”
This little Lina
Only months ago
Had a soldier’s gun
Pointing against her head
This little Lina
Only weeks ago
Had her uncle’s home
By their bulldozers
Razed to the ground
This little Lina
Didn’t know that
Only today
Some settlers
Protected by guns
And soldiers,
Invaded her village
Silwan
Near Jerusalem
Forced the inhabitants out
Of their homes
And occupied them
This little Lina
Proved very wrong
All that they say
“The abused …
Will become the abuser”
This little Lina
Never lost her soul
This little Lina
No doubt
Is our hope
And our ultimate victory
