Michael Rosen's poem, "In Gaza, children"

Thanks to Susana Tarbush of the Tanjara for posting this poem, which Michael Rosen, the British Children's Laureate, read at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, yesterday (Sat 10 Jan, 2009) during the rally that marked the start of the Stop the Massacre:Israel out of Gaza demonstration.



In Gaza, children,
you learn that the sky kills
and that houses hurt.
You learn that your blanket is smoke
and breakfast is dirt.

You learn that cars do somersaults
clothes turn red,
friends become statues,
bakers don’t sell bread.

You learn that the night is a gun,
that toys burn
breath can stop,
it could be your turn.

You learn:
if they send you fire
they couldn’t guess:
not just the soldier dies -
it’s you and the rest.

Nowhere to run,
nowhere to go,
nowhere to hide
in the home you know.

You learn that death isn’t life,
the air isn’t bread.

The land is for all - you have the right to be
not dead.
The land is for all - you have the right to be
not dead.
The land is for all - you have the right to be
not dead.
The land is for all -you have the right to be
not dead.