Father Abraham hear
us
see what you have
done
what you have
wrought
found by God to be
faithful
but loosing war
within
your sons in
constant struggle
That troubled land,
torn and split apart
knowing war,
strife, far too long
for four thousand
years
for some escape
through there, to a land
once of oppression,
now of refuge
a true promised
land
Once of hope, now
of struggle
back into that
land, give and take
the struggle of the
brothers,
of Ishmael and
Isaac
your sons, Father
Abraham
locked in mortal
combat
Locked in bitter
conflict
sibling rivalry
over money
over their father’s
inheritance
unresolved for all
these centuries
innocent blood
shed; in the stories,
in the news,
innocents in the cross-fire
Forever under
threat, ruthless, indiscriminate
rage and fury,
power, authority, nations and people
land of the saints,
of the martyrs, ancient, tribal
never finding
peace, on earth
this land of
synagogues and mosques
held in constant
war
In that rich land
of promise
yet brothers in
bitter struggle
innocent blood,
spilled,
crying out from the
ground
for God, for Allah
to you, Father
Abraham
=====
edited
October 23, 2014
“Innocent
Blood – v6
(editing
version 5)
edited
March 16, 2014
“Innocent
Blood – v5”
(editing
version 3)
Edited
November 26, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v4”
after
rereading original inspiration for the poem
Edited
November 23, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v3”
November
23, 2012
“Innocent
Blood – v2”
after
writing several poems on this topic
&
announcement
of a cease fire
between
Gaza (Hamas) and Israel
November
21, 2012
&
the
tragedy of the fighting in Gaza and Israel
and
the source of the conflict
in
the division of Ishmael and Isaac
the
sons of Abraham
&
original
poem
January
14 and 15, 2009
“Innocent
Blood”
Matthew
2:13-23
and
words of Bishop Peter Weaver,
in
his Partners in Ministry email
1/14/09,
“♦ THE TERRIBLE VIOLENCE IN THE GAZA STRIP is
deeply disturbing. Hundreds of innocent
civilians, including children are being caught in the crossfire. Last week,
after we celebrated Epiphany (Jan. 6, the magi visiting Bethlehem) I thought
about the rest of Matthew 2 where Herod sets out to kill all the
"innocents" under two and Mary, Joseph and Jesus head for
Egypt....probably through Gaza! Both the
Palestinians and Israelis fear and react to violence from the other side and to
a long history of threats and actions that are indelibly etched in their
memories. Tragically, every additional
death and injustice etches new memories in new generations who will grow up
with even more hatred and determination to "win", no matter what the
means of terrorism or oppression. "An eye for an eye, leaves everyone
blind"
How can peace with justice be found?
A Quaker saying, based in the Gospel,
points the way. "There can be no
peace without reconciliation. There can
be no reconciliation without forgiveness.
There can be no forgiveness without giving up the hope of a better
yesterday." In other words, holding
on to the deeply etched bitterness of the past prevents us from embracing a new
future of peace. Nations do it. Families do it. Churches do it. Pray that we might all become
peacemakers. Pray for the land we call
"holy."”
All of my
poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved.
Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage. See all 33,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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