Translating the Obvious ... A poem for peace by Anne Selden Annab

Translating the Obvious

"... a renewed commitment from everybody to work for peace that meets the aspirations of all, for Israelis, for Palestinians for all people of this region" John Kerry's call for a lasting Mideast peace

A
(singular- a united push
in and for peace)


RENEWED
(start now convinced peace
is decidedly better than war)


COMMITMENT FROM EVERYONE
(no matter who you are weigh in
for a just and lasting peace)


TO WORK
(resist distractions- focus,
put in all your best efforts)


FOR PEACE
(for a better future
for all our children)


THAT MEETS THE ASPIRATIONS OF ALL,
(freedom, freedom from fear & freedom
from want & freedom from bigotry &


freedom from one-state cynics and thieves
who thrive on the continuation of the conflict)


FOR ISRAELIS
(a fully secular Israel
fully respecting universal human rights
& the rule of fair and just laws)


FOR PALESTINIANS
(a fully secular Palestine
fully respecting universal human rights
& the rule of fair and just laws)


FOR ALL PEOPLE
(human beings- all equally part
of the human family,
and all equally responsible
for what is said, what is heard,
what will be... Invest all the goodness
and decency, all the honor and dignity,
all the compassion and hope and clarity
you can muster into conscientiously
ending the Israel-Palestine conflict)


FOR ALL PEOPLE
OF THIS REGION
(and beyond)