Wrapped in Clouds, Resting on Prayers
Poem by Leni Marlina
1)
The sky is fractured,
Like shattered glass above our heads,
Tents collapse beneath a burdened sky,
Winds pierce, borrowing cold from the poles.
We, the children of Palestine,
Wrapped in clouds, resting on prayers.
Once, roofs sheltered our homes,
Now only the heavens stretch above,
The blue is gone---replaced by smothering gray,
Does the sky too weep for us?
2)
Here, in a tent torn by holes,
My hand reaches for my mother's,
But all I catch is the empty air,
Her smile, they say, is in heaven.
And Father? He left with our home,
Both consumed in a single blast.
Now, only prayers remain,
The last gift in my hands,
But Father said, prayers can become all things.
I close my eyes,
And dream:
Prayers weaving thick blankets,
Turning into sweet, warm bread,
Into hugs that linger,
Into a house of light and laughter,
But when I open my eyes,
Only this tattered tent stays.
3)
Winter arrives, a ravenous beast,
Biting and stealing away our warmth,
One bite, then two, three, until nothing remains.
Yet still, we cling to our prayers,
Prayers no tank can crush,
No bullet can break,
Prayers that the snow cannot freeze.