Solidarity
Is not something you discuss over dinner
It is not a hypothetical position to be
Defended on theoretical chessboards
It is not an artful argument
It does more than merely ‘strike a chord’
Solidarity
Is not the sum of its facebook likes
It is not painting your face for the day
We Were All Palestinians
Then pressing play on real life
And pause on the siege
Till the next time Gaza bleeds
Solidarity
Lives in blood and bone
It’s the calling of another land your home
Just because it’s here on planet earth
The calling of another’s brother kin
Just because he’s here on planet earth
And we have some power and freedom here
For what it’s worth
And if there be such a thing
This killing is a sin
And so is silence
Solidarity
Is a reflex that can’t be curbed by convenience
Feet that march till the tanks stop
Voices chanting till the lies stop
Eyes still open till the killings stop
A full, heavy silence for the naming of the dead
Then no justice, no peace –
Hands off the Middle East!
For Ali Saad Dawabsheh
تضامن
All photography my own
