BIGGER THAN THE SKY

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There are panthers in the forests of Mumbai.

This sets me dreaming
of a land where temples

lean towards the sky.

A poet walks in footsteps of Siddhartha

as another day on Planet Earth goes by.

There's a doctor in the refugee camps of Gaza

who lost three daughters to Israeli bombs.

He works for peace and daily crosses borders.

"I shall not hate," he says.

I shall not cease."

There's a Sky-show going on this very second!

We live in miracles, Traveler,

you and I.

Look up.

Look up!

Let's never cease our striving

to keep our vision

bigger than the Sky.

Given the recent news, with the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestine, I was reminded of this book, and the poem I wrote in 2011, after I read it.

"I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity" was written by Izzeldin Abuelaish. He was born and raised in the refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, educated in medicine in the US, and daily goes between his home in the Israeli-controlled Gaza Strip to work in the hospital in Israel.

He has devoted his life to medicine, and to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Three of his daughters were killed by Israeli bombs, and this man's response has won him humanitarian awards. "I Shall Not Hate" he insists. His deepest hope is that his daughters "will be the last sacrifice on the road to peace between Israeli and Palestine."

Sadly, we are a long ways away from peace. As long as humans see Other instead of Us, we won't make much headway.

Wild Woman is doing a lot of staring at the sky these days. Down below, it's too perplexing.

linking this at earthweal this foggy Sunday.