<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">What I do in the war </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">Because I cannot carry your dead child,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">I sweep the deck of my friend</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and fling the dry pine needles </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">to the messenger breeze, and the strike</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">of my broom down the steps to the sea</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">is the shovel for digging the grave</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and the birdsong is the keening</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">of your family and clinging companions </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">Instead of joining you to claw the rubble</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">in search of your buried mother,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">I will bring bread to my neighbour</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">who will serve it to her children,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and I chant your name in rhythm</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">to the shouts and earth movers</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">with the warm loaf in my hand</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and the autumn air gripping my chest</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">I will serve tea to this welcome company</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and offer a fragrant, poignant </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">impotent wish for peace,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">an as-salaam aleikum with each </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">touch of the cup to silent lips,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">while you grip your phone for news</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and prepare to sleep on dark roads,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">upon carpets that once had homes</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">Nothing in me can help you know </span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">if your daughter is alive or dead,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">or which of those is worse,</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">so I will whisper b’shalom b’shalom</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">with each step up this mountain</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">from where my strength comes</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and where my cries are left</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and where the eagles loft and lift</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">You cannot bear witness to my sorrow</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">for those I love whom I do not know</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">so I will ring the Japanese garden bell</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">to reach all those unjustly taken away</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">I will listen to its resounding song</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">which ears hear for ten slow breaths</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">but which trees hear forever</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">and I pledge to each of you who suffers now</span><br clear="none" style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">a place in its vibrating prayer</span><div class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><br class=""></span></div><div class=""><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(38, 40, 42); color: rgb(38, 40, 42);" class="">Amir Peter O'Loughlin</span></div></div></body></html>