By Soma Laskar
Where is that far off land
With pretty flowers on hills?
Where no bullets litter the streets!
The pink, green, oh no the red
Satchel she tantrums for,
So many from which to pick.
Where are those blue white waves
In far off lands beyond?
Where stomachs never growl!
Where books are read,
And songs are made,
To dance at parties late.
Where on earth is the place
In far off mountains yonder?
Where no one drops a bomb!
Where Nobel prizes are won—
Weaving words almost sublime,
All that dignity, in Gwangju pain.
Where on earth can I fly
Where sweet music fills the sky?
Where deafening air raids never happen!
Where children go to school,
And play and learn history,
I wonder, who will tell our story?
My plea to you—
All who live in oblivion,
Beyond our tears, beyond our death,
Beyond our blood, beyond our fear,
Beyond our cries, beyond our terror—
Can you give us in Gaza
A single drop
From your coveted cup of peace?