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National Poetry Month occurs in April and was first introduced in 1996 to bring awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. In recognition of this, we will share four poems to celebrate National Poetry Month. Enjoy!

 

The poem of this week is From the Sky by Sara Abou Rashed:

        After Lorca

When I die,
bury me in the sky—
no one is fighting over it.
Children are playing soccer
with empty bomb shells
(from the sky I can see them).
A grandmother is baking
her Eid makroota and mamoul
(from the sky I can taste them).
Teens are writing love letters
under an orange tree
(from the sky I can read them).
Soldiers are cocking new rifles
at the checkpoint
(from the sky I can hear them).
Under fire, death and water
are brewing in the kitchen
(from the sky I can smell them!).
When I die, bury me in the sky,
I said, for now, it is quiet—
no one owns it and no one is claiming to.
Westhampton Free Library