Artist: Alaa AlJapari

Run, run, run
to the past, or the present?
To see your siblings’ 3-D faces,
or flat in the pictures?
To hug your mom,
or to stretch upon her grave?
To sing together,
or to cry?
To dance together,
or to die?

I heard you once,
without voice,
without words,
you told me:
“No life without my family,
no mornings without my sun,
without my home.
I’m a tourist in my land.
I’m bleeding in my garden.
I’m starving in my home.
I’m screaming,
but there is no sound.
I don’t need my heart.
Send it to my youngest sister
to my siblings
to my parents
to my family
to my neighbors
to my land.
I need them,
don’t need my heart.”