A BULLET, A LIE

(to Sami and his family)

ahmad had those

wildly intense

eyes that

would stare through you

as he spoke and

would light up

every now and then

as he listened and

would drive me crazy

what

does he want from me?

i remember ahmad

when

he returned from prison

to ya'bad

and his grandmother

ululated in jubilation

danced in happiness

served coffee to share

her happiness

and it was ahmad

who took me around the village

when i came on

mundane visit to see all houses demolished or sealed

in town

recording a history

of occupation

human rights work

is nice

when you have time to spare

and now

ahmad's eyes speak no more

nor listen

their words were far too strong

the message uncompromising:

freedom for Palestine

now

on October 8 of 1988

the army came to ya'bad

and took

a single shot

at ahmad