This poem is dedicated to Sophia, a 6th-grade girl in Zambia who was introduced to me by Pam Bailey, our executive director. Pam volunteered in Zambia in August and now is mentoring Sophia on writing and journalism. When Pam told me about the lengthy power outages in rural Zambia, even worse than in Gaza, I was moved to write this poem. For Sophia.

Ms. Africa,
How are you?
I would love to visit you
one day.
I have never seen a real
elephant or even a deer.
I have never seen a jungle
or woods.
But I heard from a friend
about your beauty
and hospitality.

I wish I could be
a superman,
who could lift you
out of poverty,
along with my lovely,
occupied
Lady Gaza.

I know both of you
have much in common.
Yet both of you
and your children
deserve better.

Tell your children
I love them.
I think of them.
And maybe one day,
we will enjoy running
on your land together.