A Pantoum Prayer for Nadeen by Carl Stilwell Eight people including 5-year-old boy killed by Hamas rockets fired into Israel. Israel airstrikes kill close to 139 Palestinians, including 39 children. “When I woke up I saw houses gone — nothing but dust.” Large parts of the Gaza Strip is left in rubble. Israel has now killed about 219 Palestinians, including 63 children. “They’re just kids. Why would you send a missile and kill them?”* Large parts of the Gaza Strip is left in rubble. Bodies of 16 women and 10 children are pulled from the debris. They’re just kids. Why would you send a missile and kill them?* U.S. President says Israel has the right to self-defense. More bodies of women and children are pulled from the debris. “The street? I don’t think it will go back to what it was.” U.S. President says Israel has the right to self-defense. No electricity—waiting in dark for when next strike will come. “The street? I don’t think it will go back to what it was.” All commercial areas are destroyed, so are the roads.” No electricity—waiting in dark for when next strike will come. Palestinians live in open-air prison under air, land & sea blockade of Gaza.. All commercial areas are destroyed, so are the roads. “There’s no place in Gaza that’s good for life.” Palestinians live in open-air prison under air, land & sea blockade of Gaza. “What do you expect me to do? Fix it? I’m only 10.”* “There’s no place in Gaza that’s good for life.” This 2021 war in Gaza followed those in 2008, 2012 and 2014. “What do you expect me to do? Fix it? I’m only 10.”* Nadeem Lateef’s 1st birthday was in 2012, her 10th in 2021. This 2021 war in Gaza followed those in 2008, 2012 and 2014. A yellow canary lays crushed on the ground. * QUOTE FROM 10 YEAR OLD NADEEN ABED AL LATEEF Copyright 2023 by Carl Stilwell
Carl Stilwell is a retired teacher who taught for over 30 years in mostly the Los Angeles Unified school District.He was born during the depression in Oklahoma and came to California in 1959 and has lived here ever since. His pen name was inspired by the Joads struggle for survival In The Grapes of Wrath and the songs and life of Woody Guthrie. He has lived in Pasadena since 2003 and has published poems in Altadena Poetry Review, Blue Collar Review, Lummox, Pearl, Prism, Revolutionary Poets Brigade–Los Angeles, Rise Up, Sequoyah Cherokee River Jornal and Spectrum.
