Laid Bare XI
The King of the North agrees with the United Nations –
protecting 640,000 children with polio vaccinations
is of vital importance. Humanitarian pauses
from 6am to 3pm for a few days with the view
that prevention of this outbreak in the Gaza Strip
includes the purpose of restricting
the spread of dis-ease in the region.
From far away and ill at ease
I watch what is only being reported.
Rooting for the voiceless to be heard,
This is impossible to paint with words.
Mariam Al Attar’s hollow eyes bore
into the camera with a cadaverous stare.
Surrounded by four hungry children,
sand for the floor, sky for the ceiling where
buzzing drones, fighter jets, and even kites
fly among the palm trees.
Most people’s homes have been destroyed.
It’s so hot in this makeshift tent, there’s
nowhere to escape and look for shadows.
She points to her boy, translation begins,
he has a constant fever and vomiting.
He’s stopped walking and is suffering paralysis.
Can you understand this dire analysis?
No clean water or sanitation,
rabid starvation and no medication for
pneumonia, dysentery, diarrhoea, hepatitis –
diabetes spawning unnecessary amputations.
What she portrayed was shock therapy.
Even cancer patients can’t get chemotherapy.
Outside the putrid camp as far as we could see
was a displaced minority in uninhabitable fear.
And fear turns to anger as Mariam explains
vaccinating the children, she must walk for miles.
The very first second she steps out of the tent,
she dreads a deadly missile falling on her head,
or dropped by a random sniper’s bullet –
The trauma is relentless, she cannot bear it.
Polio a snare with seemingly no cure.
Mariam resigned, concludes the interview.
This is what will spare the children –
If you, please, just please –
Just cease this ghastly war.
Read More by Skendong: Laid Bare XII: Ancient Prophesy, Epic Conflict & Destiny