Merry Christmas AmericaBells are ringing here
Bombs are falling thereRed ribbons are tied to everything here
White sheets are covering dead bodies there
Christmas trees are sold everywhere here
Palm trees are raising high and are burned there
Present boxes are wrapped with different colours here
Empty boxes are filled with hopes there
Christmas decorations are on every house here
Darkness and death are covering many cities there
Children are waiting for Santa here
Children are amputated there
Cards are sent to families and friends here
Bullets are targeting civilians there
Handle’s messiah is playing on the radio here
Soft voice of hurt women can be heard there
Christmas carols are sang in churches here
Funeral services are held in churches there
Prayers for good days can be heard here
Screams for help are heard there
Love and compassion are filling the atmosphere here
Frustration, hatred and anger are the norm there
Malls are filled with goods here
Starving people are waiting for food there
Homes are filled with families and guests here
Houses are demolished on people there
Glasses of wine are tossed here
Glass from broken windows fills the houses there
White snow is covering the streets here
Soldiers with weapons are walking in the streets there
Dogs are getting Christmas present here
Dogs are eating deceased on empty streets there
Families are gathering for Christmas dinner here
Civilians are crying for their lost ones there
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year is a wish here
Agony and despair is the feeling there
Can we feel for each other here and there?
© Copyright 2004 by AxisofLogic.com
Nesreen Melek is an Iraqi woman currently living in Canada and a regular contributor to Axis of Logic. We thank her for sending us this moving poem to us through friends of Axis of Logic. She can be reached at: n_melek@hotmail.com. Additional writing by Ms. Melek.