غزّة

I am not a religious person

in the traditional sense

Far removed from the typical hallmarks

of sin and penance

Far from worshipping any one deity

or honouring any one prophecy

Far from notions of entitlement to an

exclusive homeland because of where my

ancestors supposedly once trod

Far from praying daily to any one

crucified body

Baptized Roman Catholic as an infant

however I chose a different

path that for me personally

was most relevant

If your beliefs and alignments

are not driven by hate

but based on love, support and peace

in a community of faith

I respect you

even though that is not exactly what I do

I may be on a different wavelength

from which I draw energy and strength

But I will tell you

hand on my heart

and in the name of my own father

who taught me to never regress

to never sit back passively

and simply nod

I will tell you

Wallah

When I am in the presence of Gazans

I am in the presence of God