A Plea to Heaven

My poem pays tribute to Palestinian poet and academic Refaat Alareer, who was killed in an Israeli strike last week.

A UN resolution on Gaza's ceasefires,

Vetoed by one power, a situation dire.

Yes, Hamas must be condemned 

Let’s not forget others, 

those who find excuses for human genocide

And those who turned a blind eye on such war crimes

And those who degrade other human as subhuman 

If condemnation outweighs the value of lives,

With 18,000 deaths, a grim toll in our sight, 

How many more innocent souls be deprived

And how much more children’s blood must be shed before compassion reigns?

So that the veto be exchanged for peace

And the heavenly lord will intervene and decree,

A peaceful resolution, a pathway we see.

May love prevail, and hatred be no more,

May the souls of heaven guide and inspire,

To move the inhumane and change the deaf minds.

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Refaat Alareer is a poet, professor and writer. His most famous works include one of his last poems, titled 'If I Must Die', published a month prior to his death