On Gaza’s Beaches
Dedicated to Palestinian men
When the men were allowed to love,
the beaches had been beautiful,
a place to stay.
Today,
few of the men at shore
know that the sea was once enough
it need not be bigger or brighter,
smaller or duller
it was a place to stay.
We have been promised of time its fleet we are at a loss,
of land its witness
she will testify,
of bodies their sacredness
they will be returned.
So sometimes,
the men standing at the beach,
preparing for departure
the shore is now a place to leave
are reminded of a time when the sea was enough.
In these moments,
of months
and years
and generations,
the land holds time
and allows us a memory.
We all bear witness,
of when we were allowed to love the men –
the land reminds us to love them –
of when the beach was beautiful –
enough.
Lobna El Gammal is an Egyptian-Canadian, first generation immigrant, currently residing in Ireland. She is part engineer, part poet, full human. Lobna dabbles in literature and things creative at the intersection of “Art” and “Science”. She is committed to energy technology by day – as they say- and poetry by night, though these can often reverse. Lobna’s poetry is inspired by: art, science, nature, the diaspora experience, the Islamic faith, the Arabic language, books, and sometimes things more random like croissants and insects.
The Marbled Sigh 