Thursday, August 7, 2014

Eyeless in Gaza







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Eyeless in Gaza
by Victor Provenzano


It will not do
any more, blind Gaza,
where I’ve lived as a child
for 8 years, thin and thinning,
barely daring to drink
water.

Eyeless Samson,
I have
to slice off
your hair:
its posse of asps.

Falling head with one chin,
wide as a whiteblue
chin strap,

And a foot in the shallows,
shooting the fish folk in a blue
film of salt, like fish
in a barrel.

I’d pray to Allah to spare you,
Samson.

Yet, Samson, in agon,
I’m through.