remembrance (2024)

the land will not forget how you came to be

she won’t forget the blood spilled or the tears shed

or how homes & schools, hospitals & stores turned to rubble

the remnants of artillery shells, white phosphorus, bombs

the weight of countless martyrs — known and unknown

nor will she forget those who fled and those who stayed

the dead space where olive trees once lived

she can’t forget that life lived here once

you’ll try not to remember

but she will not forget