My Private Palestine Poem by Ibrar Siddiqi

My Private Palestine.
This life I had, was sweeter than a Clementine.
At least, along time ago,
it was all mine.
The sun shone down and touched me with good luck.
Any bad feelings,
I'd happily buck.

Along time ago,
this all changed for me.
All very friendly, a veil cast in front.
I recognized it wasn't any good,
I refused to have any more.
Shown unwanted strangers,
all the exit door.
Many have come and many have gone.
Some who I wished who stayed,
would go.
Too early to see me shine and they're light would inevitably glow.
But a few remain,
draining me like midges.
Burning those bridges,
in my life.
Simply because,
I wouldn't conform to their ways.
I was naturally mystic.
So naively pure.
Unaware of my allure.
Different to others.
I tread carefully,
so as not to tempt fate.
Trouble and me rarely shook hands.
We were like foreign lands.
Looked across borders.
Now its just common occurrence.
The violence inflicted by others.

Now today after so many years,
my heart remains hopeful.
Joyful perhaps,
look for kindred spirits to free me from tyranny.
Daily swimming with sharks and different shoals.
See me more gradually drained,
my poor soul.
Praying to someone to free me from this enforced regime.
Please, please give hope so I will,
Know my Private Palestine would be,
once more.

I Siddiqi 09/02/2013