Oh, my ruined city, 
look at me! 
Feel my weeping,
like waves breaking. 
You frighten me, 
my wings broken, 
my days stolen. 
I can’t move. 
I can’t stand. 
My dreams are buried. 
My songs are meaningless. 
You make me ridiculous. 
You frighten me. 
Oh, my lost city, 
You destroy me. 
Free me, rescue me,
from drowning.

Author's note: I am Palestinian, and I was born in Gaza, so I love my land. But at the same time, I am afraid of my city, which is what pushed me to write this poem. The unemployment, the poverty, the closed borders that keep us in it like a prison all make it feel like my city doesn't care for its inhabitants anymore.  I want my city to look at me and feel me, before I drown in the sea of its misery.