Graduation Party 

Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad 

were three of my most powerful pals. 

They each had a flower in the vase & 

our enemy destroyed all the vases and  

stole all their flowers. 

I recall their parents having inscribed. 

their names on their two arms and legs. 

Just to be able to track them down after 

graduation party. We often forget about 

our assignments because of armed troops. 

“Evacuate, damn it!” they yelled at our door. 

Ignoring the agony of an empty stomach, 

Ignoring the stillness, Ignoring the absence 

of our grandfathers, who taught us to live 

& die for the soil and air of free Palestine. 

We buried our hopes behind the fig & olive. 

trees because we wanted to live, to love, 

and to be free of the vocabulary of callous 

conflicts that neglected mankind. 

Nonetheless, we are still magnificent bare trees. 

Together in the moonless night, 

we prayed then slept in peace until the graduation. 

party began to draw closer and closer with 

daggers in our hearts, bullets screeching towards 

our chests, missiles bursting at the conclusion of  

the graduation party. 

We were picked up by one of our parents. 

many hours later. Whether you believe it or not! 

We’re all in the same bloody coffin. We wonder. 

whether when the people of the globe cease turning 

our reality the other way, they want to deafen both ears 

and blind both eyes.