When Hate Metastasizes, Plant Love.

where milk and honey once flowed
three boys were killed
and one burned
rockets fell
bombs replaced the night stars
echos from distant lands
from ovens filled with ash
the language of love used in shame
fans cool Facebook heat, twitter on texts
no dialogues, just parallel chats
friends defriended, selfies no more,
silent discussions, a wrestling match
once, two fools started a war
a hundred sages could not control
what quarrel, how immoral
brother against brother-
muslim , jew, christians too?

hate wears masks and spreads so fast
before you can yell “fire”
explosions of regret, what desire

burn up our dreams
who my child’s bride could be
what your child’s food would be
and turns your honey into my poison
it was not the path we had chosen

what happened to us?
two cells of hate, spread to defeat
but it’s not too late

I will plant flowers on our children’s grave,
Seeds of love, I’ll be brave.
Come walk with me, the weeds are dead,
Our garden flows, and hope’s ahead…