Saturday, July 11, 2009

Ibtisam Barakat's "Palestine"

To all of the Palestinians who have never seen Palestine...

Palestine


At the check out register
At an office-supplies store
I am getting ready to
Buy the world --
The globe that is
Fifty dollars, the man says
195 countries all
For 50 dollars.
I am thinking –
That means 25 cents
A country..
Can I give you a dollar
And you throw in
Palestine?
Where do you want it?
He says.
Wherever there are
Palestinians


-- Ibtisam Barakat



3 comments:

Stanley Bishop Burhans said...

Great poem!

Philip Metres said...

Glad you liked it, Stan. It's simple and plain but sometimes if you say it that way...

aethel said...

Gentle and witty provocation of a harsh political reality!