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The human clock

Background: On 5 May 2025 Dr Marwan al-Hams, director of field hospitals in Gaza spoke to the Press about the matter.These figures exclude the more recent IDF war on the West Bank. Palestinian Journalist from Jenin spoke to the poet about  this phase of struggle,thereafter. This poem was thereafter born.

The human clock

By Hassen Lorgat

The rhythm of life under occupied

lands, skies and seas

is bleak

Every 40 minutes

a child is killed in Gaza

The head doctor confirmed

a few days ago

 

As he speaks bombs keep falling

elsewhere

on everything

on everyone

cleaning central Gaza ethnically

“Over 16 000 children murdered since October 2023”,

Dr Marwan  al-Hams speaks

He with his unsung staff,

have long been the guardian of the Hippocratic oath

…his parents named him well,

Marwan,

that immovable stone

the songbird of truth and justice

 

“Of these

908 were infants

311 newborns perished after birth

More will die from hunger, thirst

and the blockade stopping medical aid to all

Mostly women and children”

 

the surviving journalists confirm

that some were in nappies

none wore military fatigues

Now surrounded by wailing and dry tears

as they lay motionless dressed in white calico …

 

The Gaza gates remain closed

over a muffled sky

and a marooned sea

as the global media plays with the genocide

fogging a war

 

The UN’s white flag flies at half mast

whilst the street cries out for

Ceasefire!

Peace, Justice!

still unheard but not unseen

the conscience of the powerful

– evaporates at the altar of greed and fear

amidst an Israeli manufactured famine

 

What flows freely into Gaza are Zionist killer bombs

enhanced by F16

drones

and other gifts

courtesy of the USA and many European friends

and AI.

These killers are unhinged

their circadian rhythms have gone ballistic

now in the service of the genociders

stealing land, life and limbs.

 

Tick Tock

Tick Tock

Gaza is a time-bomb

Tick

Tock

Time is running out for Gaza

 

Tick

Tock

another child

 

Tick

Tock

another bulldozer

 

Every day, a home and olive tree is uprooted

Tick tock

defiantly quenching its own thirst

the olive tree refuses to die

Tick tock

the tree is Palestine

 

Time is running out for humanity

a bruised Palestine

pregnant with hope

still breathes

 

Hassen Lorgat
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