Sunday Poetry: Felicity Curry

It out-herods Herod


Where can a baby now be safely born?

A 'terrorist' in the unholy land,

Wrong breed, the scion of a scapegoat race

Can find no refuge from the tyrant's wrath.

Now Bethlehem's a walled, forbidden place,

And Gaza's rich oasis now a path

Of cesspits. Mother! Bear your child and mourn:

You hold a still blue baby in your hand.



What of the river Jordan? Why, of course -

It baptises the occupying force.

Send them your children: on your fertile soil

Their Carmel fruits thrive on exploited toil.



Resist? Then face collective punishment,

a sanctioned slaughter of the innocent.



Felicity Currie

(Poem published at War Poetry.)