To Live by Yerusalem Work I seek forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Adam, alayhi salaam, learned words of inspiration from God. Between us, is there forgiveness for what we have done? Rockets remind us we look upon the same sky. Rocks slung from David to Goliath—generations of conquering giants. We are more devoted to Muhammad, peace be upon him, than an earthly king’s subjects are to the crown. For believers, this world is upside down. We are under pressure to obey our oppressors. To Allah we belong and to Allah we return. To Palestine we belong and to Palestine we return. To Ethiopia, I belong and to Ethiopia I return. Torn from home, I worship God alone. How will we know our repentance has been accepted? Will the woman at the well fetch water or does she have a story to tell? Will Ethiopia despite her alliances heal her daughters? I see the sacrifice the innocent make, the burnt face. We kill our brothers. We die in ongoing struggles. A peace offering—a poem. To give birth to a child unfettered by apartheid, unhampered by inequality. To smile from the inside. To live with dignity and pride. Copyright 2023 by Yerusalem Work
Yerusalem (Yeru) Work has a heart for interfaith dialogue. She is an award-winning essayist and bestselling author of poetry and short stories available on Amazon. She earned a master’s degree in library science and a bachelor’s degree in film studies. As an Ethiopian-American artist, educator, and librarian, she wishes everyone compassion and endless inspiration. She lives in the Washington DC area and her web site is https://yerusalemwork.wixsite.com/thenewjerusalem
