This is a poem about the Israeli/Palestinian "conflict." I use quote marks because really what it is a brutal stupidity of mutual killing motivated by fear, anger, revenge and greed, all driven by the twisted agendas of the past and current leaders on both sides. Into the mix throw in the irrational patterns of racism on one side and anti-Jewishness on the other. One can't use the term "anti-semitism" because both peoples are semitic, unless, of course, one means it in the internalized self-invalidation sense. Such internalization is fatal to oneself and others.

At 12:53 PM 11/5/02, I wrote:

To All,

I had a dream
You'll think me mad, absurd,
But from somewhere I got the word,

From sweet heaven or flaming hell, I cannot tell.
My hand trembles as I reach for the button to "send,"
The risk is so great; you may not want to hear from me again.
I cannot help it, just know
Ever and always I am, in truth, a friend.

*****************

"I dreamed last night of Israelistine
a land that was one, then two, now one again.
How, in a land where war was king,
now, where peace does reign?

Oh, Israelistine,
as bright as the brightest star does shine.
Two peoples in one land,
of Jew and Palestinian, does now begin,
carved out by the hand of God.

How do they live,
how do they forgive
the blood and hate and tears
that raged on and on and on
for years?

Are they not human, have they no minds
to think, and come away from the brink, of destruction?

When both are construction
of the self same, only God.

Two different kinds,
yet one upon the sod, the Holy Sod,
cousins in holiness, from the high to the lowliness.
From the sea to the river
fashioned by the same Forgiver.

HE can forgive, why not they? And live
as equals in all things: in Government,
in Access and Chance
to Enhance her and his lot,
each Free to choose what plotfor Home and Family.

Equal seats in parliment and posts
to maintain parity, and peace between the Hosts.
Then each People from them
Elect to fill the seats, and send to Jerusalem
Together to perfect the laws

Fair to both Entreats.
And at the very top, he or she most Loved by all, elected
for a certain time to lead.
All matters perfected
in the course of time. Sublime
in the struggle for Harmony.

How can this come to be, you plead,
this impossibility,
when still with hate and fear and blood, they bleed?

May I demonstrate, in truth,
and dare to educate
how each soul may ventilate
their hates, angers, fears, curses and tears
to let the drainage wash away the pain
as all others listen; Oh see how their skin and eyes glisten,
as humaness comes back again.
This is how nature makes us
and takes us to new heights of enlightenment.
Three decades and three years of work
have shown me proof.

So natural this healing will
still the bitterest of hearts,
and let new days make new starts
in the Land of Milk and Honey.
That old land divine, that land so fine
that new Land of Israelistine."